Jonathan #2's experience - added 8th March 2003
"I had it done and it's been fine"
I just wanted to thank everyone posting here and give my experience.
I had a closed ended NSV Vasectomy three months ago. I had a positive experience and wanted to post the details, since you seem to hear more from those who have had problems. My way of thanking all those who did post their positive experiences and trying to make sure that both sides are heard.
One note: If you are considering a vasectomy talk about it with everyone. I did and found out a lot of people had them and it was very comforting since several said "it was the best decision" and everyone said they were happy with the results.
The details:
The procedure went well. it was an outpatient procedure done in a hospital in Brooklyn, NY. It was performed by a well known urologist, but not a specialist who my PCP referred me to and was also my fathers urologist. I met with him and he seem competent and experienced (20 years doing the procedure). He used a closed ended two hole NSV method. The both ends of the vas were cauterized and the testicular end was folded back and stitched down. The doctor's feeling was that the granulomas were more of a problem. Each 'incision' was closed with one stitch. The procedure took about twenty minutes aside from the prep and post op. The anthologist gave me an IV drip with a little something to relax me and a local for the scrotum.
The procedure was done on a Thursday. I was running errands on Saturday, re doing the kitchen waste line feed on Sunday, and was at work on Monday.
Post op pain was OK since the doctor gave me an strong local and I sat with a bag of frozen peas on my nuts for a couple days, just to be safe. I took extra strength Tylenol to relieve the ache and was getting around fine but gingerly by two to three days later. The surprising part was the lower abdominal pain from when the vas was pulled (oddly no one seems to mention that).
The doctor gave me a nut sac contraption like a jock strap that held only the nuts. I found the elastic bothersome so I just wore some bikini underwear that gently propped everything up and out of the way but didn't apply pressure.
My nuts had ache for a little less than a week, but nothing horrible. During that period they were quite sensitive to the touch. (I must note here that the Sunday after the operation my 4 year old fell on me and put his full weight on my nuts with his hand which may have been a contributory factor as well as being forced to do plumbing that day.)
By a week later the ache was gone and only the left vas was sensitive however the doctor told me there was a lot of tissue around it at the consultation. The post op exam went fine.
During the first month I would some times have twinge in the vas and occasionally would feel some pressure or ache in what I assume was the vas. I took Alleve sometimes and it helped. But it was not terrible and some of the time I took the Alleve for tendonitis more than for the aches.
As time went on the aches became less frequent and less noticeable. By a month to a month and half my nuts felt normal. I personally think that was the time necessary for the body to learn to re absorb the sperm.
I am scheduled for the semen analysis in two weeks a little over three months after the cut. My doctor said we would only need one test as long as it came back clear. I will add updates if anyone is interested.
Jonathan