Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsLocationWhat to WearFood and DrinkMedicationsWhat to Bring
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Location
What to Wear
Food and Drink
Medications
What to Bring
Avasectomyis a safe and relatively easy way for men to prevent pregnancy. It’s often done in under an hour as an outpatient procedure. Most men are back at work within days of a vasectomy. Find out what you need to know beforehand for the procedure and recovery.kupicoo / Getty ImagesLocationWhile a vasectomy is a surgical procedure, it does not typically take place in an operating room or hospital.General anesthesiaand intravenous sedation is an option your healthcare provider may use, butlocal anesthesiaor oral sedation is usually adequate.The vasectomy can take place in a procedural area of a healthcare provider’s office or outpatient medical center.What to WearYou will likely be asked to change into a gown for the vasectomy for sterile purposes, but preparation and after-care are key. Before you leave home, your healthcare provider may ask you to:Clip the pubic hair around your scrotum.Shower or bathe on the day of surgery, perhaps using an antimicrobial solution.Wear comfortable clothing that will be easy to change in and out of.Shaving Pubic Hair Before VasectomyBefore a vasectomy, you may be asked to clip or shave your pubic hair. This is best done the night before the procedure. Keep the following advice in mind as you prepare.Shave all pubic hair away from the scrotum the night before or the morning of your vasectomy, including all hair up to the top of the penis.Do not use an electric razor on the scrotum. Single-blade disposable razors are ideal.Thoroughly wash the scrotum and groin area after hair removal and before the surgery.Food and DrinkUnless you are going under general anesthesia, there should be no need to avoid food and drink altogether leading up to your surgery. Your healthcare provider may suggest avoiding heavy meals, eating lightly, or sticking to liquids immediately before your vasectomy.MedicationsAs with other surgical procedures, your healthcare provider will ask you to avoid some medications before surgery. These medications are usually blood thinners and other medications that could increase the risk of bleeding during your vasectomy. Your healthcare provider will ask you to stop these medications roughly five days before surgery. They might include:AspirinNon-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs(NSAIDS) like Advil (ibuprofen) or Aleve (naproxen)WarfarinPlavix (clopidogrel)Ticlid (ticlopidine)Oral anticoagulants like Xarelto (rivaroxaban) and Eliquis (apixaban)Make sure to ask your healthcare provider about when it will be safe to restart your medications after your vasectomy.Taking Blood Thinners Before, During, and After SurgeryProphylactic antibioticsto prevent infection are not usually used before a vasectomy, but your healthcare provider may prescribe them if you are at a high risk of infection.What to BringWhile a vasectomy is minimally invasive and done as an outpatient procedure, you should still anticipate some discomfort after your procedure. You may be asked to arrange for someone to drive you home and care for you after your vasectomy. Specifically, you should avoid driving after your vasectomy, as it can aggravate the surgical area.You may also be asked to arrive early to complete any paperwork or consents that you haven’t already. Make sure you bring identification and any insurance information you may need to complete this paperwork.Your healthcare provider will also advise you to bring a clean jockstrap, compression shorts, or other supportive garment to ear after your vasectomy. Comfortable clothing that is easy to put on after surgery is suggested.Pre-Op Lifestyle ChangesThere are a number of lifestyle changes that can benefit you at any time, but particularly before a surgery like a vasectomy. Smoking is one of these changes, and quitting before surgery can greatly improve your recovery after surgery we well as improve your overall health.You should also make preparations for the days following your surgery. Plan to rest and limit physical activity for the first 24 to 48 hours.You may also need to plan one to three days off work after your vasectomy, depending on the type of procedure you had done and your expected recovery.A Word From VerywellA vasectomy is generally a quick outpatient procedure, but your healthcare provider will still ask you to make certain preparations before surgery, as well as a plan for the immediate post-operative period. You should plan to limit your physical activity for at least a few days after your vasectomy
Avasectomyis a safe and relatively easy way for men to prevent pregnancy. It’s often done in under an hour as an outpatient procedure. Most men are back at work within days of a vasectomy. Find out what you need to know beforehand for the procedure and recovery.
kupicoo / Getty Images
While a vasectomy is a surgical procedure, it does not typically take place in an operating room or hospital.General anesthesiaand intravenous sedation is an option your healthcare provider may use, butlocal anesthesiaor oral sedation is usually adequate.The vasectomy can take place in a procedural area of a healthcare provider’s office or outpatient medical center.
You will likely be asked to change into a gown for the vasectomy for sterile purposes, but preparation and after-care are key. Before you leave home, your healthcare provider may ask you to:
Shaving Pubic Hair Before VasectomyBefore a vasectomy, you may be asked to clip or shave your pubic hair. This is best done the night before the procedure. Keep the following advice in mind as you prepare.Shave all pubic hair away from the scrotum the night before or the morning of your vasectomy, including all hair up to the top of the penis.Do not use an electric razor on the scrotum. Single-blade disposable razors are ideal.Thoroughly wash the scrotum and groin area after hair removal and before the surgery.
Shaving Pubic Hair Before Vasectomy
Before a vasectomy, you may be asked to clip or shave your pubic hair. This is best done the night before the procedure. Keep the following advice in mind as you prepare.Shave all pubic hair away from the scrotum the night before or the morning of your vasectomy, including all hair up to the top of the penis.Do not use an electric razor on the scrotum. Single-blade disposable razors are ideal.Thoroughly wash the scrotum and groin area after hair removal and before the surgery.
Before a vasectomy, you may be asked to clip or shave your pubic hair. This is best done the night before the procedure. Keep the following advice in mind as you prepare.
Unless you are going under general anesthesia, there should be no need to avoid food and drink altogether leading up to your surgery. Your healthcare provider may suggest avoiding heavy meals, eating lightly, or sticking to liquids immediately before your vasectomy.
As with other surgical procedures, your healthcare provider will ask you to avoid some medications before surgery. These medications are usually blood thinners and other medications that could increase the risk of bleeding during your vasectomy. Your healthcare provider will ask you to stop these medications roughly five days before surgery. They might include:
Make sure to ask your healthcare provider about when it will be safe to restart your medications after your vasectomy.
Taking Blood Thinners Before, During, and After Surgery
Prophylactic antibioticsto prevent infection are not usually used before a vasectomy, but your healthcare provider may prescribe them if you are at a high risk of infection.
While a vasectomy is minimally invasive and done as an outpatient procedure, you should still anticipate some discomfort after your procedure. You may be asked to arrange for someone to drive you home and care for you after your vasectomy. Specifically, you should avoid driving after your vasectomy, as it can aggravate the surgical area.
You may also be asked to arrive early to complete any paperwork or consents that you haven’t already. Make sure you bring identification and any insurance information you may need to complete this paperwork.
Your healthcare provider will also advise you to bring a clean jockstrap, compression shorts, or other supportive garment to ear after your vasectomy. Comfortable clothing that is easy to put on after surgery is suggested.
Pre-Op Lifestyle Changes
There are a number of lifestyle changes that can benefit you at any time, but particularly before a surgery like a vasectomy. Smoking is one of these changes, and quitting before surgery can greatly improve your recovery after surgery we well as improve your overall health.
You should also make preparations for the days following your surgery. Plan to rest and limit physical activity for the first 24 to 48 hours.You may also need to plan one to three days off work after your vasectomy, depending on the type of procedure you had done and your expected recovery.
A Word From Verywell
A vasectomy is generally a quick outpatient procedure, but your healthcare provider will still ask you to make certain preparations before surgery, as well as a plan for the immediate post-operative period. You should plan to limit your physical activity for at least a few days after your vasectomy
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Urological Association.Vasectomy guidelines.Cleveland Clinic.Vasectomy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vasectomy.
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Urological Association.Vasectomy guidelines.Cleveland Clinic.Vasectomy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vasectomy.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Urological Association.Vasectomy guidelines.Cleveland Clinic.Vasectomy.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vasectomy.
American Urological Association.Vasectomy guidelines.
Cleveland Clinic.Vasectomy.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Vasectomy.
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