Vasectomy Preparation
At our office, located at North Austin Urology, most people who come in for a vasectomy consultation have the consultation and their procedure done on the same day. So, in our case, it is important to be prepared for the procedure when you come in for the consultation.
Avoid blood thinners prior to your vasectomy
The most important thing you can do is to avoid blood thinners, including aspirin, ibuprofen and other medicines which can thin the blood and increase your risk of bleeding. We ask that you avoid these medications for at least seven days prior to your procedure. This includes the use of Plavix or other blood thinners for atrial fibrillation if prescribed by your doctor.
Shaving before your vasectomy
The purpose of shaving the scrotum is to avoid hair that could be caught up in the incision and make it easier for us. Soaping up the scrotum well and then shaving the area underneath the penis on either side of the scrotum is going to go a long way to making the experience the best that it can be. If you fail to shave yourself, then I’ll be forced to do it.
Mental preparedness is an important part of your vasectomy prep
Beyond physical preparation, there might be a little mental preparation. After all, this is a pretty important part of your body, that you’ve spent a long time keeping knives and sharp instruments away from. I would say that the most important thing you can do is to make sure is to make sure that you and your partner have discussed this procedure thoroughly and are comfortable with proceeding.
In our office, some patients will have the procedure done even if they don’t have children. But, most have had children and are prepared for this next stage of life. If you have any questions about that, you may want to call our office and inquire about sperm preservation, which can be done, thus avoiding the need for a vasectomy reversal or other procedure in the future.
If you are ready to move forward with a vasectomy consultation, or have additional questions, you can contact our office and schedule an appointment.