6 Ways to Support Your Partner Before and After His Vasectomy

Your partner is a huge part of your life. You always want to support them, especially if you’re considering something as important as a vasectomy. And there are many ways that vasectomy benefits women — how could you not?!

Since your partner is the one undergoing the procedure, there are a few ways that you can support him before and after his vasectomy.

Before His Vasectomy:

1. Decide Together That You’re Ready

There are a lot of things to consider before deciding on a vasectomy. For example, a vasectomy is permanent (unless he gets a vasectomy reversal). Have a conversation with your partner and discuss your ideal family size. Do you both feel like your family is complete? A vasectomy is a great way to prevent additional pregnancies.

2. Schedule His Vasectomy

Choose a vasectomy appointment date together that allows you to be around and provides him with downtime. Your partner will need a few days after his procedure to rest, and he’ll want you around to help him during his recovery. Most men are able to return to work two days after their vasectomies, so Friday is a popular appointment day that allows for a weekend-long recovery.

3. Understand the Procedure

Before his vasectomy, your partner will have a physical exam and a consultation. During the consultation, the urologist will explain the vasectomy procedure. A vasectomy takes about 15 minutes and can be performed in a urologist’s office or an outpatient surgery center. It’s a quick, simple procedure!

4. Encourage His Questions and Ask Your Own

You and your partner will be able to ask questions during his consultation. There’s a lot of misinformation surrounding vasectomy. This is your opportunity to ask questions and get an honest answer from an expert. One common myth is that a vasectomy will change your sex life. That’s not true! A vasectomy won’t change your partner’s desire, sex drive, erection, or performance. A vasectomy only stops your partner’s body from releasing sperm.

After His Vasectomy:

1. Allow Your Partner to Rest

Your partner may need you to drive him home from his vasectomy. Even if he is able to drive himself, he will need to go straight home and put his feet up or lie down. When he’s comfortably resting, he’ll need to place an icepack (or frozen peas) on the surgical area. It cannot be applied directly to the skin.

It’s recommended that men stay home from work for two days after their vasectomies. This time should be used to rest. Three days post-procedure, your partner can return to work and light activity. After a week, he can begin to ease into regular physical activity. After two, he can return to all physical activity.

It’s not uncommon for men to have some discomfort, pain, bruising, and swelling for the first week after their vasectomies. The more your partner moves around during recovery, the more discomfort he will experience. Encourage him to rest as much as possible.

2. Use a backup form of birth control

You and your partner can resume sexual activity a week after your vasectomy surgery, but you’ll need to use another form of contraception. Vasectomies are almost 100 percent effective at preventing pregnancy, but it takes a few months for sperm to be out of your partner’s system.

After his vasectomy, your partner will need to produce a negative semen sample. His urologist will give him instructions on how and where to deliver the sample. If it comes back negative, then he’s considered sterile, and you no longer need to use an additional form of birth control.

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