Article: When you schedule an appointment with your doctor to discuss your vasectomy, you should come prepared with certain facts about your own medical history. Keeping your doctor informed will help determine if the procedure will be safe and effective for you. Talk to your doctor about the following issues:  Any history with excessive bleeding or blood disorders. As this is a surgery, any issues with blood loss need to be discussed. If you have any allergies, specifically to anaesthetics. Anaesthetics will be used during the vasectomy, and your doctor will need to know if you are unable to receive them. Inform your doctor if you have any skin diseases, especially on or around the scrotum. If you regularly use aspirin or any other medication that thins the blood. Any previous injury, surgery, or any current or repeat infections of the male genitalia or urinary tract. At least a week before your vasectomy you will want to start taking steps to prepare. Taking these steps will help make your surgery be a successful and easy one.  Stop taking any any medication that might thin the blood, which includes aspirin, warfarin, heparin and ibuprofen. Trim body hair and clean the area that will be worked on. Find a pair of tight or supporting underwear to bring with you on the day of your surgery.  This will help minimize swelling and support the area after the surgery. Find someone to drive you home from the surgery. This is to minimize aggravating the areas affected by the vasectomy. After your surgery, you will need to practice proper after-care techniques. Plan to rest for two to three days. Although modern vasectomy techniques cause minimal discomfort, there are some things you can do to speed along the healing process.  If you develop a fever or signs of infection, seek medical help immediately. Support the scrotum, either using a bandage or supportive underwear, for 48 hours. Keep the area cool by using ice packs for the first 48 hours. This helps reduce swelling or inflammation. Avoid physical activity for at least one day after the surgery. Too much activity can cause injury and bleeding in the scrotum. Avoid bathing or swimming for, at minimum, one day after the surgery. Avoid heavy lifting for seven days. Wait seven days to have sex. If you engage in sexual intercourse before a week has passed, you may notice pain and blood in your ejaculate. You also still may have viable sperm in your semen, which can result in pregnancy. Because the tubes still have sperm in them a man needs to ejaculate 20 time before birth control is effective. Continue use of birth control until your doctor has confirmed that your vasectomy has been successful. Follow up includes a sperm count 3-4 months after the procedure to check and see how many sperm the man has in his sample. The couple can then stop short term birth control. The vasectomy can sometimes be reversed, but this does not always work.
What is a summary of what this article is about?
Know what to tell your doctor. Prepare for the surgery. Perform proper after-care.