How Long is Recovery from a Vasectomy Reversal?

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How Long is Recovery from a Vasectomy Reversal?

The decision to have children or not have them is one that should be taken seriously. But sometimes people change their minds. They may think they don’t want any kids, only to meet a special someone who does want them. 

It’s difficult and even impossible to reverse a tubal ligation for women. However, many men can successfully reverse their vasectomy and become fertile again. Vasectomy reversal takes a couple of hours and requires two weeks of full recovery as long as everything goes well. 

When it comes to vasectomy reversal, the recovery process is the same as having a vasectomy itself. There are several main rules that apply:

• Rest and apply ice to the area to reduce swelling in the first few days.
• You can resume moderate physical activity within one week.
• You can resume sexual activity, including ejaculation, within two weeks.

Read on to find out what else you should know about recovering from a vasectomy reversal.

Caring for Yourself After a Vasectomy Reversal

Recovery from a vasectomy reversal takes 1-2 weeks, although each person is different. By following your doctor’s instructions, you can heal faster.

• You may have bruising, swelling, and pain in your groin and scrotum area. This will usually go away within a week or two.
• Take care of your incision by gently washing it with warm, soapy water and pat it dry afterward. Strips of tape should stay on for a week or until they fall off.
• Get plenty of rest. Adequate sleep will aid in recovery. However, you should also walk every day to help keep the blood flowing, which prevents constipation and pneumonia. You should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities.
• Showering is OK, but you should avoid bathing until your affected area has healed (roughly a week or so). Keep the area as clean and dry as possible to help prevent infections.
• Take medications as directed. If you are given antibiotics, take the entire course, even if you feel better. 

You may wonder when you can return to work. This will depend on how physical your job is. For the most part, you should be able to return to work or school within a week. However, if your job is physically demanding, you should consider taking two weeks off. Sometimes complications occur, making the recovery process longer. For example, you may have to deal with ripped stitches, infection, or increased pain. Contact your Brooklyn, New York doctor with any concerns. If you have follow-up appointments, make sure to keep them.

Contact Us Today

You may not have wanted kids when you were younger, but you got married and changed your mind. If you already had a vasectomy, the good news is that reversing it is a straightforward process. Contact a New York doctor at Lazare Urology to schedule a vasectomy reversal. We use local or general anesthesia and have a 90% success rate. To learn more, fill out the online form or call (718) 568-7516. We serve the Brooklyn area.