Saint Mary’s HospitalDepartment of Reproductive Medicine

Advice for Men before and after Surgical Sperm RetrievalInformation For Patients

INF/DRM/CLI/3 V4/01/11/2013

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Patient’s name: ________________________________________

Please do not eat or drink anything after midnight prior to your operation. This includes water, sweets and chewing gum.

It is important that you shave the hair off the scrotum or use a depilatory cream prior to surgery.

Your operation is scheduled for: ________________________

What time do I arrive?On the day of your operation, please report to reception. The nursing staff will then advise you where your bed will be located.

What do I need to bring?You should bring slippers, socks, dressing gown and toiletries with you and something to pass the time. You should also bring some firmly supportive jock strap style underpants. You will need to wear this style of underpants for the first 48 hours after your operation.

What happens next?Your consultant and anaesthetist will see you before your operation to ask you to sign the necessary consent form and answer any final questions you may have. Your partner may telephone the nursing staff on the ward where you have been admitted after midday to enquire about your operation.

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How long do I need to stay?You can expect to be in hospital until approximately 5.00 pm.

Your consultant will come to see you after the operation to explain the findings and to ensure that you are fit for discharge home.

Your condition will be checked by one of the IVF medical or nursing team to see you have sufficiently recovered from your anaesthetic. We would need to know that you have passed urine comfortably, have been able to eat and drink without any nausea or vomiting, and that you are able to walk steadily without assistance.

You will be able to go home by late afternoon or early evening if all is well.

You will not be able to drive after the operation so please make sure you arrange for someone to take you home.

Please take careful note of the following advice for after your discharge from hospital.

Are there any precautions I should take after the operation?Although you will probably feel fine, judgement is impaired after an anaesthetic, therefore do not drive any motor vehicle, ride a bicycle, or operate any machinery including domestic appliances within 24 hours of the anaesthetic.

You should be driven home by your partner or other companion.

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What should I expect following surgical sperm recovery?You should be able to leave hospital shortly after the operation and resume full normal physical activities after 4-5 days. We would advise you to wear your scrotal support (jock strap) continuously for 48 hours after your operation to minimise discomfort and protect your scrotum and testes.

The stitches used are dissolvable and will not usually need to be removed. However, if the stitches have not separated away after 14 days, we would advise you have them removed either in the treatment room at your GP’s surgery or here in the IVF clinic. The free ends of your skin stitches will have been left long to simplify their removal if necessary.

Most men will experience some mild discomfort or aching for a couple of days. It is advisable to take simple pain relief such as Aspirin, Paracetamol or Ibuprofen regularly, every six hours, for 48 hours after your operation.

What are the possible complications after surgical sperm recovery?The most common complications are infection or a haematoma (a collection of blood) within the scrotum. Both of these may cause pain, usually within 2-4 days after the procedure. Infection will usually cause increasing tenderness and there may be cloudy discharge from around the dissolvable stitches in your scrotum.

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A haematoma will usually cause a swelling and deep purple discolouration but the risk of this is minimised by you wearing your scrotal support for 48 hours after your operation. If you suspect either of these problems is developing, you should contact the IVF clinic or your own GP. Out of hours you can contact the hospital on:

(0161) 276 6204 (Emergency Gynaecology Unit)

Can I have a bath?It is important not to soak the wound for the first 7 days after the operation. We advise you to kneel in a shallow bath for those 7 days, alternatively showering is fine.

Other informationDuring the seven days after your operation if you go for a long walk you should wear your scrotal support. Also during the first seven days avoid lifting and protect the wound.

You should resume a normal diet and increase your daily activities to a normal level over a 3 to 4 day period. You should abstain from sports activities, heavy lifting and sexual intercourse for approximately 10 days.

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Own notes

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TIG 24/14 Produced January 2014 Review Date January 2016 (SF Taylor CM15456)