Being told to avoid sex for a while is part of recovery after many urological procedures, but the advice varies widely and many patients feel awkward asking. This post brings together what published patient leaflets say about common procedures, what changes you might notice, and which symptoms mean you should contact your team instead of waiting.
Why the waiting time differs
How long you need to wait depends on whether there is a skin wound, a raw surface inside the urinary tract, a catheter or a stent. The timeframes below come from named patient leaflets. Hospitals do not all give the same advice, and your surgeon’s instructions take priority because they know exactly what was done.
Quick guide by procedure
| Procedure | What the leaflet says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vasectomy | Sex and ejaculation can resume after 7 days; use other contraception until semen tests are clear | NHS vasectomy aftercare advice; NICHD |
| Adult circumcision | No sex for four weeks after surgery | NHS circumcision aftercare information |
| TURP for an enlarged prostate | Safe to have sex 4 weeks after the operation | NHS TURP patient leaflet |
| Ureteric stent (often after ureteroscopy) | No restrictions on sex life; take care not to dislodge a stent that has a thread | BAUS |
| Radical prostatectomy | No fixed date given; ask your team about erection recovery and rehabilitation | Cancer Research UK |
Vasectomy: sex is allowed, but not yet as contraception
NHS vasectomy aftercare advice says sex or ejaculation can be resumed after 7 days. The same advice notes that some blood in the urine or semen for the first 1-2 weeks is not uncommon. The key point is that a vasectomy does not work straight away. According to the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), sperm take 15 to 20 ejaculations, or about 3 months, to clear, and you need to keep using other contraception until a semen test confirms no sperm. Our vasectomy guide explains the procedure and follow-up tests.
Circumcision and prostate surgery for an enlarged prostate
After adult circumcision, NHS aftercare information says you must not have sex for four weeks after surgery. Our circumcision page covers the operation itself.
After transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), an NHS patient leaflet says it is safe to have sex 4 weeks after the operation. Climax may feel different, and the leaflet notes that some men have pain or discomfort the first few times. The same leaflet states that semen goes backwards into the bladder in 70 out of every 100 men after TURP and that this is permanent. This is called retrograde ejaculation; it is not harmful but should not be relied on as contraception. Read more in our page on retrograde ejaculation.
For newer treatments such as Rezum steam therapy or laser prostate surgery, both of which the centre offers, advice is given individually. The leaflets reviewed for this post give no fixed waiting time after these procedures, so ask your team when sexual activity can restart.
After radical prostatectomy
Removing the whole prostate for cancer changes sex more than other procedures. Cancer Research UK explains that men no longer produce semen afterwards, so orgasm is dry, and some men find it less intense. Cancer Research UK says erection problems are common at first after prostate surgery and are more likely to be permanent after radical prostatectomy, and it states that erections may take about 3 to 4 years to return. It suggests asking your specialist doctor or nurse about penile rehabilitation. Our page on erections after prostatectomy describes the options.
Kidney stones, stents and ureteroscopy
Stone treatment is not an operation on the penis or prostate, although ureteroscopy passes a thin telescope along the urethra, so sex is mainly limited by comfort and by your team’s advice. A ureteric stent is often left in after ureteroscopy. BAUS says there are no restrictions on your sex life with a stent. With a stent that has a thread coming out through the urethra, BAUS warns that sex can be difficult and that care is needed not to pull the thread and move the stent. Our ureteral stent guide explains living with a stent. The leaflets reviewed for this post give no fixed waiting time after shockwave lithotripsy, so ask your team.
How problems after surgery are checked
If something does not feel right, your urologist will ask about your symptoms and the timing, then examine the wound or genital area. A urine test is often used to look for infection or blood, and a scan may be arranged if a collection of blood, a blockage or a problem with a stent is suspected. Problems with erections or ejaculation that continue after healing are assessed separately, often at a planned follow-up visit.
Warning signs: when to get help
Contact your surgical team or seek urgent care if you notice any of the following after a procedure, whether or not you have resumed sex:
- A fever, chills or feeling generally unwell; NHS circumcision aftercare information lists a temperature of 38°C or higher as a reason to call
- Bleeding that does not stop, heavy bleeding with clots, or a significant increase in blood in the urine
- Being unable to pass urine
- Pain that keeps getting worse or is not controlled by the pain relief you were given
- Redness, swelling or discharge from a wound, or a large, growing swelling of the scrotum after vasectomy
- A stent that moves or falls out
Pain during or after sex that does not settle with healing is also worth reporting; our post on painful ejaculation explains common causes. The centre’s urologists can assess any concern after a procedure.
Frequently asked questions
How soon can I have sex after a vasectomy?
NHS vasectomy aftercare advice says that sex or ejaculation can resume after 7 days. However, the NICHD explains that sperm take about 3 months or 15 to 20 ejaculations to clear, so other contraception is needed until a semen test confirms the vasectomy has worked.
Can I have sex with a ureteric stent in?
Yes, according to BAUS, a stent places no restrictions on your sex life, so comfort is the main guide. If your stent has a string coming out through the urethra, take care not to pull it, as this could move the stent.
When can I have sex after TURP?
An NHS patient leaflet on TURP says it is safe to have sex 4 weeks after a TURP. Climax may feel different, and the leaflet says semen goes backwards into the bladder in 70 out of every 100 men. This is not harmful.
How long after circumcision can an adult have sex?
NHS aftercare information advises no sex for four weeks after adult circumcision, so that the wound can heal fully. Your surgeon may adjust this depending on how healing progresses, so check at your follow-up if you are unsure.
Is blood in the semen normal after urology surgery?
Some blood is expected after certain procedures. NHS vasectomy aftercare advice says some blood in the semen is not uncommon in the first 1-2 weeks after the procedure. Persistent or heavy bleeding should be reported to your team.
References
- Vasectomy post-operative advice – NHS Fife
- How effective is vasectomy? – NICHD
- Circumcision post-operative information (adults): What to expect following surgery – UCLH
- Trans Urethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) – Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
- Ureteric stent advice – British Association of Urological Surgeons
- Surgery to the pelvis or genitals for men – Cancer Research UK
Book a consultation
Prof. Samir Al-Samarrai and Dr. Amer Mousa assess urological conditions at Prof. Al-Samarrai Medical Center, Dubai Healthcare City, and discuss the options that suit your case. Medical consultations are confidential.
Read more: Urologist in Dubai: doctors, services, insurance and booking
This information is for health education and does not replace a medical examination. See our medical content policy.
Medically reviewed by: Prof. Dr. Samir Ahmed Al-Samarrai, consultant urologist. Review date: .
About the doctor
Prof. Dr. Samir Ahmed Al-Samarrai, consultant urologist. He studied medicine at the universities of Heidelberg and Johannes Gutenberg in Germany and graduated with distinction, earned his doctorate (PhD) with a research thesis in 1980, and on 23 August 1978 received his specialist certificate in the treatment and surgery of male urological diseases from the Free University of Berlin, at its medical school hospital, under the specialist regulations of the Berlin Chamber of Physicians.
Clinic: Prof. Al-Samarrai Medical Center, Al Razi Medical Complex 64, Building D, 2nd floor, No. 2018, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai. MOHAP licence: ZGU3I12X-291225.
This article is for health education and does not replace a consultation with a doctor. Last updated: 6 November 2026.
How we write and review our content: medical content policy