About 500,000 men in the United States elect to have a vasectomy each year. A vasectomy is one of the most effective ways to prevent unwanted pregnancies. The minor surgical procedure involves closing off the ends of the vas deferens — tubes that carry sperm.
After a vasectomy, a man has full sexual function and drive. He produces semen, but because it has no sperm, intercourse won’t result in pregnancy. Although some vasectomies may be reversed, it’s considered a permanent form of birth control. If you’re considering a vasectomy, discuss the implications with your partner.
One of the most common questions that the team at Buschemeyer Urology gets about vasectomies is how soon the man can resume sexual intercourse afterward. The good news? You’re cleared for intercourse in just seven days.
There are other things to consider before you start having sex again, however. Here’s what experienced urologist W. Cooper Buschemeyer III, MD, wants you to know.
You can resume sexual intercourse seven days after your vasectomy, provided you feel ready and able to resume full sexual activity. Assess how you’re feeling overall and how the affected area is healing, which depends greatly on your aftercare of the surgical site.
After the vasectomy, you go home to heal and should rest for a solid 24 hours. Icing your testicles helps aid in recovery. Some patients use pain medication to ease any discomfort. Don’t be surprised if you have soreness for several days. Some men benefit from wearing a jock strap as they heal.
You should also refrain from lifting and carrying anything heavy and avoid excessive exertion during recovery.
Usually, you can return to work within 2-3 days of the vasectomy. Continue to avoid any strenuous activity until Dr. Buschemeyer has cleared you completely. In the first seven days after a vasectomy, sexual arousal can cause mild discomfort. Once that first week has passed, you’re usually ready to have sex again.
When you do have intercourse again, take it slow. Ease yourself back in to avoid discomfort or injury.
Although you can resume having sex after seven days, you should still use protection to prevent pregnancy. We will have you in 2-3 months after your procedure to run a sperm analysis to be sure all sperm is gone from your semen. Until then, you may have lingering swimmers in the vas deferens that could result in pregnancy.
If we do detect sperm at this appointment, continue to use contraception. We will schedule another sperm analysis about a month later to determine if your semen is clear and you are not at risk of impregnating your partner. In very rare cases, a second vasectomy will be needed.
A vasectomy does not affect your sex drive or sexual function. If you suffer erectile dysfunction after a vasectomy, it’s due to other causes like an underlying health issue or stress.
If you’d like to schedule a vasectomy consultation, contact our Buschemeyer Urology team at the Conroe, Willis, or The Woodlands, Texas, offices. Call today or use this website to set up your consultation.
