How to prepare for your vasectomy 

On the day of your treatment please ensure that you do have something substantial to eat and drink before you come to the centre. This does not affect the local anaesthetic and will help to ensure you don’t feel lightheaded. 

We will send you a map showing you how to reach the clinic. If you are unsure about directions, have any queries, or think you are going to be late for your appointment, please call us on 0345 300 0212.  

Do not drive on the day of your appointment and we recommend that you avoid driving for 48 hours if possible, however if you do you must take extra care when braking.

We also recommend that you do not use public transport, but you can use a taxi service. If you need to use public transport, we strongly recommend that someone is with you when you travel in case you begin to feel unwell.

It is important to wear tight fitting cotton underwear on the day of your appointment, and for a minimum of seven days afterwards. The tighter the better. This is to support your scrotum, to make you more comfortable, and to speed up the healing process. We recommend that you wear underwear that is one or two sizes smaller than normal, with enough fresh pairs for your recovery.  
– Tight fitting underwear:  
– Provides support to the testicles  
– Helps reduce any pain  
– Is more comfortable  
– Will aid recovery  
– Reduces swelling to the testicles 

24 hours before your appointment, you can prepare some ice packs or ice trays in your freezer as they may be useful if you experience any swelling following your treatment. 
 
The local anaesthetic you were given will wear off in a couple of hours and you may feel sore. If you are feeling uncomfortable, take over the counter pain relief such as paracetamol and ibuprofen (providing you are not allergic or intolerant to them or have been advised by a health professional to avoid taking. Some people should avoid using ibuprofen and others should use it with caution). Always follow the dosage instructions on the packet and don’t exceed the recommended maximum dose. Do not take aspirin as this can increase the risk of bleeding (please note, if you take aspirin for medical reasons, we will discuss this further with you).

Cooling down the sore area can also help reduce pain and swelling. Hold an ice pack, wrapped in a clean towel, against the sore area. Take care not to get the wound wet as this may affect the healing process and may cause infection.

You should not have used any recreational drugs for at least 24 hours before your appointment. If you have taken recreational drugs, please tell us. This could affect your treatment and ability to consent. 

We recommend that you don’t drink alcohol 24 hours before your appointment. Alcohol can cause your blood vessels to dilate which may result in increased bleeding. 

To help reduce the risk of infection prior to your surgical procedure we recommend you purchase Octenisan wash lotion 500mls, readily available online and in high street pharmacies. This product is a mild, antimicrobial wash lotion for skin and hair and helps to reduce the colonisation of skin with bacteria prior to surgical procedures. Please use for 5 days prior to your vasectomy surgical procedure (the instructions for use are on the product).

On the day of your treatment, it’s a good idea to have a bath or shower before leaving home. Please do not shave or trim the hair around the testicles.