Tips For Understanding The Days Following Your Vasectomy
If you are getting ready to undergo a vasectomy procedure, you should go into the process with a full understanding of what to expect. A vasectomy is a very common and routine procedure, but that doesn't mean it's free of recovery time needs and potential complications. Understanding the after-effects of surgery will help you to know what is typical and what really needs your doctor's attention. Here are some of the most common effects of vasectomy surgery that you should watch out for.
Post-Surgical Pain
Traditional vasectomy surgery requires incisions in your scrotum. As a result of those incisions and the resulting stitches to close them, you can expect to experience some inflammation, redness, swelling, and pain in the surgical area after the procedure.
In most cases, the pain isn't significant, and it only lasts for a couple of days following your surgery. You can typically manage it with anti-inflammatory medication, rest, and ice on the surgical area. If the pain is severe, or if it lasts for more than a week post-surgery, you should reach out to your doctor to find out why. There could be a complication that's leading to the persistent pain.
Pain isn't always a problem, though. If your doctor practices incision-less surgery, you can have a pain-free vasectomy. These procedures are completed with little more than a puncture to your scrotum, so there are no incisions, no sutures, and no resulting inflammation that can cause pain.
Bruises
Regardless of which type of procedure you opt for, there may be some blood accumulation just under the skin where the procedure is done. This can lead to some bruising on the surface of the scrotum, and that bruising can even spread to the shaft of your penis. Usually, the bruising will fade within a few days with no other issues to worry about.
Infection
If you fail to follow the post-surgical recovery steps provided by your doctor, you may suffer an infection in the surgical site. This is primarily a risk for those having a traditional vasectomy, as pain-free vasectomies don't usually have any kind of wound that's vulnerable to bacteria and infection. Make sure you keep the site clean and properly dressed according to your doctor's instructions to minimize the risk of this. If you do get an infection, you'll need to call your doctor for an antibiotic to treat it.
Blood Clots
During recovery, you may experience some level of clotting around the wound. Unfortunately, you can also develop a clot in a blood vessel surrounding the wound. This can be painful when it happens, but these clots are typically absorbed by the body and cause no long-term harm. However, sometimes the clots aren't absorbed on their own and they require further treatment. Your doctor may need to drain the wound for you to clear the problem.
Sperm Accumulation In The Scrotum
If the tubes aren't sealed completely, you may suffer some level of sperm leakage into your scrotum initially. When this happens, it causes some lumps in your scrotum. While they aren't usually particularly painful, you may feel them when doing self-exams. They will dissolve on their own given time, but if they do prove to be uncomfortable, you can contact your doctor for advice to help treat it. Rest, heat, and pain medication are usually the best way to manage a condition like this.
Vasectomies are standard procedures and are completed every day. Understanding the potential effects of the surgery and how to deal with them can help you to approach your procedure with less worry and more confidence in your recovery. Talk to a doctor at your local medical clinic, such as Durrani MD & Associates, if you have any further questions about the surgery and what you should expect in the time afterward.
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