Vasectomy Bruising: How Common Is Bruising After Vasectomy?
September 8, 2024
Vasectomy bruising is common. How common is bruising after vasectomy?
Vasectomy bruising is so common we tell our patients to expect it and not worry about it.
The only reason to be worried about bruising after vasectomy is if there is significant pain and swelling associated with the bruising… but only within the first 48 hours of the vasectomy procedure.
Scrotal bruising can be considered normal after a vasectomy procedure. Especially painless bruising.
Some patients may have no bruising at all, some could have bruising limited to one half of the scrotum, and a few may have bruising of the entire scrotum after vasectomy.
Bruising should be a normal expectation after a simple, uncomplicated vasectomy. If you have bruising then you should not be worried. The bruising will not last forever and should resolve without the need for any additional treatment.
How common is bruising after vasectomy?
We estimate that approximately 30% of our patients ( 1 out of 3) will have some degree of bruising after vasectomy.
We list scrotal bruising after vasectomy as a risk on our vasectomy consent form. Technically the definition of risk is “a situation involving exposure to danger”. A simpler and more appropriate medical definition of the word risk would be “the possibility of something bad happening.”
Most doctors will limit the discussion of vasectomy risks to the bad outcomes which could cause disruption to your daily activities, side effects, or long term complications.
We have a liberal definition of the word “risk” when we list the risks of our vasectomy procedure.
We expand our definition to include events that are common but may not be expected after a vasectomy. Our expanded list of risks include outcomes which are concerning to patients but can be entirely normal and not pose any long term complications.
Bruising is a common occurrence after vasectomy. Painless…or relative painless bruising… is normal.
Bruising is usually not a problem unless you are significantly swollen after your vasectomy. Bruising that occurs in combination with swelling and significant pain can indicate you are having a vasectomy complication.
Why do you have bruising after vasectomy?
Bruising is caused by bleeding into or underneath the skin layers. The blood usually tracks underneath the skin or within the layers of the skin and is externally visible. The cause of the bleeding could the anesthetic administration and also from the actual surgical procedure.
In the very initial stages, bruising appears red or pink. This is because fresh blood has lots of oxygen and appears bright red in color. This initial stage of pink color does not last very long…probably minutes to hours because the red blood cells slowly release their oxygen.
In the second stage, the red blood cells release their oxygen. Once this happens, the bruising begins to change color from reddish-pink to purple. The purple color of bruising is when most patients will visibly detect they have a bruise.
The bruising is usually painless unless there has been a large amount of bleeding. The purple state of bruising is what usually seems to hang around the longest and what most patients will concerned about.
In the third stage of bruising, the body begins to break down, resorb, and recycle the red blood cells. As the components of the red blood cells are broken down most patients will notice a color change. The purple color will gradually begins to fade 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.
The appearance and severity of bruising can be influenced by the color of a patient’s skin.
In pale skinned patients, bruising will usually look worse because the contrast is visually obvious. In darker skinned individuals, bruising may not even be noticed unless it is severe. If bruising is severe in darker skinned individuals the skin may appear darker in the area where the bruising is happening.
Where do you see bruising after vasectomy?
The most common place to see bruising is around the vasectomy opening in the center of the scrotum. This bruising can be immediately next to the skin edges of the scrotal opening or could extend towards each side. The bruise could be about the size of a quarter in the center of the scrotum.
Sometimes there is bruising on one side of the scrotum. Half the scrotum could be bruised and the other half could appear normal.
Bruising can sometimes be seen in the area where the shaft of the penis inserts and could extend slightly towards the abdomen.
In some rare cases, the entire scrotum could be bruised. As long as there is no significant swelling that would indicate a scrotal hematoma then this bruising could be a variation of normal.
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.
Bruising that appears well after a vasectomy has been completed is not always a reason for concern. It does not mean that bleeding happened after the vasectomy.
Should bruising after vasectomy be a concern?
You can easily get bruising from any trauma..whether that be hitting your hand on a object, getting a vaccination, or having a surgical procedure. Most of us have had bruising at some point in our lives.
In our experience, when patients observe bruising a week after their vasectomy they are concerned they may be experiencing a vasectomy complication. It is an understandable and common sense concern.
Patients rationalize “My vasectomy was last week…so why am I seeing bruising a week later? I must be having a complication.”
We believe some patients may have a larger amount of bleeding deep within the skin or scrotum. As the blood seeps through the tissue layers it may ‘work its way to the surface’ and especially when the resorption process begins.
Again the key understanding is the bruising is mostly painless and there is also no significant swelling associated with the bruising.
What is significant swelling?
You will know it when you see it! Orange, grapefruit, and cantaloupe sized swelling is significant. 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 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. Even scrotal hematomas, just like bruising, will resolve and resorb with time….it will just take longer for a hematoma to go away.
How long does bruising last after vasectomy?
Most bruising should resolve within two weeks. Time to resolution will depend on the volume of blood that happens with the initial bleeding.
The larger the amount of blood then it could take longer for resorption to occur. The lesser the amount of blood then the bruising could be faint and resolve quicker. Also 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.
How can you prevent bruising after vasectomy?
There really is no reliable way to prevent bruising after your vasectomy other than to stop taking aspirin or prescription blood thinners. Aspirin and prescription blood thinners can increase the risk of bleeding.
Do not stop a prescription blood thinner before having a vasectomy without first consulting with your doctor.
We do recommend you stop aspirin before a vasectomy because 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. You should be aware that aspirin is in many different commonly available over-the-counter medications.
If you are taking aspirin for minor health issues (ie headache or joint pain) then we recommend you ideally stop taking aspirin for 5 to 7 days before your vasectomy procedure.
Although aspirin can increase the risk of bruising (a minor cosmetic concern) we do not feel strongly that aspirin increases the risk of a scrotal hematoma (a more serious vasectomy complication). We will perform your vasectomy even if you are taking aspirin because, in our experience, we have not observed serious vasectomy complications as a result of aspirin.
You should also limit your activity within the first 48 hours of your vasectomy. Vigorous activities like running, lifting, or bending could cause small amounts of bleeding and increase your chances for having bruising.
Will ice packs or frozen peas prevent bruising?
Ice packs or frozen peas applied to the scrotum may limit the spread of bruising but probably don’t prevent bruising from happening.
About the only way you can prevent bruising after vasectomy is to not get a vasectomy!
Obviously, this is a ridiculous suggestion because bruising after vasectomy is a minor cosmetic issue that does not cause any lasting complications and will quickly go away.
His Choice Vasectomy, The Only Way To Go!
Although bruising after vasectomy is common, you should not let this dissuade you from having a vasectomy. All bruising resolves eventually.
If you have bruising after vasectomy, the bruising will resolve within several days but the satisfaction of having one of the safest and most effective forms of permanent birth control will last forever!
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.
To see our locations visit: His Choice Vasectomy Locations
We encourage you to do your research, watch our videos, and schedule a single visit vasectomy with a His Choice vasectomy provider.
