Post-op Restrictions

Unfortunately, yes.  One of the most common causes of failure of a reversal is when the two ends pull apart (known as 'dehiscence').  To reduce the chances of this happening, we recommend that you take it as easy as possible for a full 8 weeks.  This includes trying to limit bending, twisting, arching your back, or tensing your stomach muscles as much as possible.  Whenever you transition from sitting to standing or something similar, ideally, these movements should be done slowly. 

At the end of the 8 weeks, you should slowly ease back into normal activities over the following weeks.  That being said, you will still need to go on with your everyday life.  Walking and stairs are both ok.  Ideally, you should avoid walking long distances though (i.e. miles / kilometers), where possible.

This depends on the specific job.  If the job requires you to do aggressive activities, including lifting, bending, twisting, or similar things, ideally we would want you to take as much time off of work as you can (up to 8 weeks).  If, however, you have a job where you are more sedentary (i.e. sitting at a desk), then you can resume work whenever you feel comfortable.  Most people will be comfortable returning within one week. 

Our recommendation is to have intercourse safely, particularly during the first three months, where we want to protect the surgical repair.  

For example, we recommend avoiding the female-on-top position for at least two months.

But the male-on-top position may be used one month after surgery, as long as care is taken to avoid excessive pressure on the scrotum.

If ovulation occurs very soon after surgery and intercourse isn’t possible, you may ejaculate into a cup and use a syringe to instill the semen vaginally.

For the first three months after surgery, we recommend avoiding ejaculation except during the three days around ovulation, and when sending us your semen sample.

After three months, you may return to your normal routine.

In general, we recommend waiting 1 week until you submerge the wound in water.  If the incision opens, we would recommend waiting until the incision has fully closed.  Also, you will want to limit activities such as swimming until you are ideally 8 weeks out from surgery to reduce the likelihood of the area of repair pulling apart.