Preparing for Surgery

Two Weeks Before Surgery
To ensure your surgery and recovery go smoothly, you’ll want to notify us if you develop a cold, flu-like symptoms or other illness within two weeks of your surgery. You should also refrain from taking aspirin (or anything containing acetylsalicylic acid) or any anti-inflammatory medication (such as Advil®) for two weeks before your surgery. Please consult with Dr. McClure before discontinuing any prescription drugs prescribed by other physicians.

Please arrange for someone to drive you home following the surgery. A taxicab will not be acceptable, as you need someone to stay with you for the first several hours.

If you are from out of town and plan to have any of your post-operative care with your local physician, please send the name, address, and telephone number of this physician so that Dr. McClure can communicate with your doctor after your surgery.

Day of Surgery
Do not have anything to eat after midnight the night before your surgery. You may have up to two cups of clear liquids, up to two hours before check-in time.

Dr. McClure will perform the surgery in our surgery center at our Seattle office (map). In most cases, you will arrive in the morning and leave the same day.

Vasectomy reversal is generally performed using local anesthesia and conscious sedation, but can vary with your preference. The surgery averages two to three hours, while a bypass may take four or five hours. The length of surgery is determined by: the type of procedure, the amount of scarring from the initial vasectomy, the degree of inflammation, if any, and the ease with which sperm can be identified.

After Surgery
You will receive detailed instructions for post-operative care and medications. Severe complications are rare. Normal symptoms after surgery include: slight swelling, bruising or discoloration of the scrotal area, and general achiness. The pain is similar to, or slightly greater than, the pain experienced with the original vasectomy. Pain medication, such as codeine, is prescribed and is usually only necessary for a day or two after surgery. Ice packs work well to decrease pain and swelling. The patient should wear a scrotal support for one week post-surgery to decrease discomfort and minimize swelling.

Normal strenuous activity and sexual relations can be resumed three weeks post-surgery, after checking back with Dr. McClure.

Revised August 8, 2006