Is it the right time to get a vasectomy?

When you’ve decided to stop having children – or if you don’t want to have children at all – vasectomy may be a good option. 

With many people working from home these days, now is a convenient time to get a vasectomy. Recovery time for a vasectomy is typically just a few days, and not having to go in to work is very helpful.

Pair that with a major sporting event, such as March Madness NCAA basketball tournament, and you can have an easier time recovering from the vasectomy with a long weekend of non-stop college basketball. It’s convenient for men to have a low activity level and time to ice for two to three days during this time.

There can be a lot of apprehension among men about getting a vasectomy. Let's answer the most common questions and talk about how it works.

Is a vasectomy painful?

A vasectomy is performed in a doctor’s office (no operating room necessary). Since there isn’t any general anesthesia, you can eat normally before the procedure. Patients get local anesthesia to numb the region, so nothing is felt aside from a little bit of pressure. The procedure takes about 10-15 minutes. Bringing music to listen to can help you relax during the procedure.

Using ice on the scrotum helps to reduce swelling for 2-3 days after the procedure. (That's where NCAA March Madness comes into play.) Wearing supportive underwear for the first couple of weeks also helps to minimize pain. A few other guidelines: No ejaculating for one week after, and no strenuous activity or heavy lifting for one week. After that, plan to return to a normal activity level.

It's normal to feel anxious going into the procedure, and men are often surprised to hear that it's all done already because it's such a short procedure. Most men tell me that it's not nearly as bad as they anticipated, and some men even fall asleep during the procedure.