I took on this responsibility for our family. The urologist I saw did the ti clip and cauterization. Let me warn you that watching smoke rise from the area of your boys is a bit surreal.

To answer your question, plan on a minimun of 4 weeks of some form of discomfort. For me, the initial swelling and discomfort was done in a few days. But any strain in the following weeks you will be very aware of, as some scarring occurs. I was not into tris yet when I had the procedure done.

I know a guy who was back on his bike and running again in about 10 days, but he is very driven and focused, and often ignores common sense and the signals from his body.

There are some doctors who participate in this forum...hopefully they will offer an opinion.

I got "the snip" this summer and was very concerned about what it would mean for time off as I had a race scheduled for 6 weeks later. I googled the subject and found people saying anywhere from 3 days to 3 months. Needless to say I was scared.

The procedure I got was called "no scalpel". Hopefully not too many details here, but the incision was really not much more than a nick, and was non invasive, at least by my definition. The dr. assured me that this new technique is really quite non-tramatic, and that I would be back in the saddle and running in 5 days. I was skeptical.

I was feeling 100% in four days and was doing a speed workout at the track like nothing ever happened (wore compression shorts to minimize any jostling). I work hard during my workouts, but I listen to my body and am not crazy, honestly I felt fine. Recovery is a specific thing from one person to the next, but the no scalpel procedure is certainly not your dad's vasectomy, and in all honesty, the worst part was the anticipation leading up to the procedure.

I don't know much more than this: hubby got the titanium clippy thingies. He was down for a couple of days but not much longer than that. He rides a lot now and has never had any issues in the long term with the clips.

BTW, whatever method you choose, get re-checked every so often. I now know 3 folks with post-vasectomy babies. They do sometimes grow back together. I don't know if this is more common with one method than with another though.

I'm not in the medical field, but I believe they're safer for the husband???? Correct me if I'm wrong. I think that's what route we'll go in our family. Both of our kids were cesarean so I guess if we had known we were done after two (and she was already sliced up) there wouldn't have been additional risk?????

Notice I have question marks on all of these. I'm interested if somebody has a good anwser.

after a cauterization vasectomy, i was cycling LIGHTLY after 1 week, but off of workouts for 2 solid weeks. i didn't really want to run until after the third week. swimming was easy once everything was sealed up good...only worried about creepy pool water.

did it on a thursday afternoon (minimizing work days off)
was on my back pretty much for two days with a bag of frozen peas snuggled up to my aching sack
walked like a cowboy for a few days more, returning to work monday
took the bus that week to work
weekend spent quietly, no chores that required lifting or significant exertion
commuted by bike slowly the following week

next week got back into bike workouts

honestly, i had aches for about two months after (not consistent, just random ones) and then clear sailing

followup test 6wks later gave me a positive (how the hell do they live that long!?!), but subsequent testing was negative

it's important to keep testing :)
i mean, really...that's why you go through with it in the first place ;)