If you are researching vasectomy then you should be made aware vasectomy bruising is a common occurrence.
If you have bruising after vasectomy then you are probably wondering if everything is going to be okay and how long does bruising after vasectomy last?
Vasectomy bruising is common.
We see bruising after vasectomy in approximately 30% of our patients (1 out of every 3). It can happen within the first two weeks of a vasectomy procedure and will slowly fade away given the passage of time.
You do not have to be worried about vasectomy bruising unless there is significant pain and swelling with the bruising … especially within the first 48 hours of having a vasectomy procedure.
Painless scrotal bruising after a vasectomy procedure can be considered normal. The bruising will not last forever and should resolve without the need for any additional treatment.
Now if you are ‘swole up’ and also having a lot of pain after your vasectomy then you could be having a vasectomy complication.
Bruising after vasectomy: Why does it happen?
Simply put, bruising happens when bleeding occurs underneath or within the layers of the skin.
Usually there is a leaky blood vessel that oozes blood and gradually stops. The blood, if it has no place to go, will remain in the tissues until it is slowly dissolved and resorbed by the body.
Why would there be a ‘leaky blood vessel’?
All procedures will cause some degree of trauma, injury to blood vessels, and bleeding. You do not even need a procedure to have bleeding. You could simply close your finger in a door, hit your thigh on a table while walking around, or bump your head on a low ceiling. These are all common occurrences where the blunt force to the human tissue causes bleeding within the tissues that will result in bruising.
You can even pop a blood vessel in your eye from sneezing, coughing, or throwing up. The bleeding will happen in the whites of the eye and slowly turn into a bruised eyeball while the blood is being resorbed. It will look absolutely horrible until it slowly goes away.
Stages of bruising after vasectomy
In the first stage, bruising appears red or pink. This is because fresh blood has lots of oxygen and appears bright red in color. This stage lasts minutes to hours. Once the red blood cells let go of their their oxygen the color of the initial bruise will change.
In the second stage, the red blood cells release oxygen and the bruising begins to change color from reddish-pink to purple. Most people are aware of the purple color of bruising because this is the first obvious appearance of a color that does not look normal. The purple color is also what hangs around the longest and is the most visible to the human eye.
During the third stage of bruising, the body begins to slowly dissolve and recycle the red blood cells. As the components of the red blood cells are broken down most patients will notice a color change from purple to a ‘yellowish/greenish’ appearance.
In the fourth and last stage of bruising, the remnants of the red blood cells that are being resorbed will have a ‘yellowish/brown’ or ‘light brown’ appearance. Eventually, the skin will return to its normal color.
More information: Stages of bruising
People who have very pale skin will usually have bruising that looks way worse. This is because the contrast between purple and pale white is obvious. People who have darker skin may have bruising that is not very noticeable.
Bruising after vasectomy: Where do you see it?
The most common place to see bruising is next to the skin edges of the scrotal vasectomy opening. The bruising will surround the skin opening and can even extend towards each side. The bruise could be about the size of a nickel.
You can even have a half and half! This is where half the scrotum is bruised and the other half of the scrotum is normal.
Occasionally, bruising can extend towards the penis or the upper groin or abdominal area.
In some rare cases the whole scrotum could be bruised…quite literally ‘blue balls’!
As long as there is no significant swelling associated with the bruising then everything should be okay and return to normal with more time.
Houston we have a problem: When is bruising a problem?
Painless vasectomy bruising happens commonly. Bruising after vasectomy is only a problem when the bruising shows up within the first 48 hours and is also associated with significant pain and swelling.
What is significant swelling?
Significant swelling is obvious. You do not have to be a doctor to diagnose yourself with significant swelling.
If your scrotum is the size of an orange, grapefruit, or cantaloupe within the first 48 hours and is also bruised then… “Houston we have a problem!”
You will see it from across the room. You do not have to be a doctor to diagnose yourself with significant swelling after vasectomy.
Significant swelling plus bruising within the first 24-48 hours after vasectomy usually indicates a scrotal hematoma. A scrotal hematoma is a risk of vasectomy that could cause significant but temporary pain and discomfort.
More information: Vasectomy risks
Even scrotal hematomas, just like bruising, will resolve and resorb with time….it will just take longer for a hematoma to go away.
When should you see bruising after vasectomy?
The appearance of bruising can happen anytime within the first week of having a vasectomy. Most commonly scrotal bruising after vasectomy is noticed when the bruise gradually appears within the first 48 hours of having a vasectomy.
In some cases, the bruising may not appear until the week after vasectomy. This can be normal. Why would it take a week for bruising to show up?
We are not really sure but we believe it is from bleeding that is deeper in the skin or within the scrotum and it takes times for the blood cells, or components of the degraded blood cells, to diffuse or migrate towards the surface.
How long does bruising last after vasectomy?
Most bruising after vasectomy should resolve within two weeks. It really depends on how much blood was released into the skin layers.
A small amount of bleeding then the smaller the bruise and quicker it will go away.
A large amount of bleeding then the larger the bruise and longer it will last.
If the blood has the ability to escape the confines of the skin through the scrotal opening then less blood remains inside to cause bruising.
The bruise will resolve quicker and, in some cases, you may not even have a bruise.
How can you prevent bruising after vasectomy?
There really is no reliable way to prevent bruising after a vasectomy other than do not have a vasectomy!
We recommend three things to decrease your chance of bruising after vasectomy.
- Limit your activity the first 48 hours.
- Do not take aspirin before or after your vasectomy.
- Do not take prescription blood thinners. Please consult your doctor before doing this.
Limit your activity. As we said above, you can cause a bruise in your eye simply from coughing or sneezing. The increase in blood pressure can cause blood vessels to break. This results in bleeding and bruising. The same could be true after having a vasectomy procedure.
We recommend no running, bending, straining, or lifting heavy objects after your vasectomy procedure. Why take the chance of increasing pressure in your scrotal blood vessels and causing a small bleeding and bruising that will unnecessarily cause you to be concerned?
Do not take aspirin before vasectomy. Aspirin prevents platelets from working. Platelets are substances in the blood that prevent blood from clotting. If blood does not clot then bleeding is easier and you could have more bruising. Aspirin can impair platelets for up to 14 days after taking the medication.
More information: When to stop aspirin before major surgery?
Aspirin is in many different commonly available over-the-counter medications. You may be surprise to learn that aspirin is an ingredient in Excedrin and Goody powder…just to name a few commonly over the counter medications that contain aspirin. Make sure you check the ingredient label.
Prescription blood thinners. This is a tough one. These medications definitely can contribute to more bleeding and bruising during and after a vasectomy. Usually if you are on a prescription medication it is for a real good reason.
Do not stop a prescription blood thinner before having a vasectomy without first consulting with your doctor.
If your doctor thinks it is okay to stop your medication then it would be safe to do so and this would decrease your risk of having bleeding and bruising after vasectomy.
Will ice packs decrease bruising after vasectomy?
Ice packs or frozen peas applied to the scrotum may limit the spread of bruising but probably don’t prevent bruising from happening.
There really is not much medical literature on this subject. Doctors who perform traditional vasectomy routinely recommend using ice packs/frozen peas to decrease pain and swelling.
The advantage to a modern, minimally invasive vasectomy like His Choice is that our patients really don’t have much swelling or bruising.
We recommend that our patients do not use ice packs or frozen peas. In our experience, ice packs do not do much good after a His Choice vasectomy.
Ice may decrease bruising but most bruising is really not a serious problem and is only a cosmetic concerns that quickly resolves without any medical intervention.
His Choice Vasectomy: Less pain and quicker return to normal!
His Choice Vasectomy is a modern, minimally invasive vasectomy. Patients who have a His Choice Vasectomy have minimal pain and are back on their feet in no time.
Bruising after vasectomy is common. You should not let this cosmetic concern prevent you from having a vasectomy. Bruising will resolve without the need for treatment.
How long does bruising last after vasectomy?
It should not last for more than two weeks and should mostly be painless. If you are swollen and in significant pain then you may be having a vasectomy complication.
Having a His Choice minimally invasive vasectomy will allow you to have a vasectomy in a single visit without sutures or needles and allow you to get back to your normal routine as quickly as possible.
You may have bruising after vasectomy but you should not let this be of concern.
Although you may be bruised, the bruise will go away; however, the confidence you will have in knowing you received one of the safest and most effective forms of permanent birth control will last forever!
To see our videos visit: His Choice Vasectomy Videos
We encourage you to do your research, watch our videos, and schedule a single visit vasectomy with a His Choice vasectomy provider.
