How to Prepare for a Vasectomy

Posted on by Paul Turek, MD
Ice after a Vasectomy
Ice: on the short list of needs after vasectomy. Photo credit: Dirk Spijkers

The COVID pandemic has been very clarifying for you. You really don’t want more/any children. She has “pulled the goalie” and it’s time for you to step up and take control of things. After a bit of online research, you realize that your options are pretty limited: pulling out, abstinence, condoms…and vasectomy. Luckily, vasectomy happens to be the best contraceptive ever, bar none. And with the snip, unlike with any other male contraceptive, you don’t have to do something to avoid the threat of pregnancy every single time you have sex.

Warm Up

So, the choice is clear and the appointment is made. Now, how do you get ready for a vasectomy? Probably the first thing is to get comfortable with the idea that someone else will be working down there for 5-10 minutes. And, you might think that there is no more sensitive body part than the family jewels. But, in fact there is.

Last year, I saw my dentist quite a lot. While in the office, mouth wide open, teeth being poked and scraped, I realized that the mouth is an extremely sensitive area too. But is it as sensitive as the genitals? To find out, I began to survey my vasectomy patients moments after finishing their vasectomies by asking: “Be honest, which is worse a vasectomy…or a dentist office visit?”  Unanimously, the dentist office visit was worse. And I don’t mean a tooth pull, root canal or cavity filling, just a simple dentist office visit. To boot, a vasectomy is much shorter than a visit with the dentist. Good to know that my patients prefer a vasectomy to a dentist office visit!

Entering the Ring

Now that you’re comfortable facing your fate, what else should you do in preparation for a vasectomy? Here’s a list of things to think about:

  • Stop aspirin or ibuprofen 7-10 days before the procedure. These drugs reduce platelet function and hamper the ability to clot blood.
  • Put some frozen peas or mixed vegetables in the freezer for use for 24 hours after the procedure.
  • Don’t man shave beforehand. It’s safer if a limited shave is done just prior to the procedure by the medical staff.
  • Wear loose clothing for the procedure.
  • Plan for someone to give you a ride home, especially if you take a sedative pill before the procedure
  • Clear out your schedule of its usual “busyness” for a day or so after the procedure.
  • Make sure you get the contact information to be able to reach the doctor’s office if you need to after the procedure.

Know too that after the event you will really love the new you: “100% juice and no seeds.”