This section is a mixture of stories. Most of them are routine complications that were easily resolved, some are longer term problems that presented more difficulty. Whilst there are risks and complications associated with vasectomy, please be aware that as webmaster I have no way of verifying the accuracy of information within the stories - please exercise your own judgement! Although all the stories have some form of post vasectomy problem, not all of them regretted the vasectomy. If your story is listed in this section we'd love an update!
We have a page that lists the common complications, incidence and how they are commonly resolved that visitors may wish to view for more information.
| Adam Added March 18, 2004 Updated April 2, 2004 Updated May, 3 2004 Updated May 19, 2004 Updated June 17, 2004 Updated Aug 26, 2004 Updated Sept 26, 2004 Updated Nov 20, 2004 Updated Dec 28, 2004 |
Adam is 37 and has suffered low-grade chronic testicle pain since a teenager. He had an operation at 21, but this ultimately didn't resolve the problem and he's just learned to live with it. This story is written 23 days after his vasectomy, and he had a scrotal hematoma. There are several updates to the story. The latest was posted a few weeks after his reversal surgery. |
| Anthony Added July 2, 2006 Updated October 28, 2006 |
Anthony had his vasectomy done using the Vasclip procedure. He had persistant discomfort after the procedure, and when he sent in the original story was considering having a reversal. This ultimately happened - he had the clips removed. The update details his experience, and his experience in getting the insurance company to pay for the treatment. |
| Art Added June 6, 2002 Updated |
Art developed a couple of extra "balls" during the recovery, but they went within two months. "I am very confident that this will be one of the best investments I’ve made. So far, I am extremely happy with having a vas. No more kids, no more condoms, no more pills, and spontaneity!" says Art. |
| Brett #2 Added October 4, 2009 |
Brett has a new Indian net name - "Sitting hurts". He had a vasectomy at the end of September 2009. He developed a scrotal hematoma afterwards. His story details the procedure, the hematoma and his recovery to date. He also offers some good advice on how to cope with recovery. He's promised to keep us up to date with the recovery. |
| Christopher Added November 11, 2000 Updated Oct 23, 2001 |
"Is three vasectomies on one man the world record?" is the title of Christopher's story. He didn't get the "All clear" after the first vasectomy, another vasectomy was done, and he STILL didn't get the all clear. In the end it was done under a GA. Unfortunately we don't have an update if he was ever cleared! |
| Darrel Added April 6, 2004 Updated |
Darrel had his vasectomy mid December 2003. Two weeks later pain started to appear. After a roller-coaster ride he eventually was diagnosed as having "a spermatocele due to back pressure of sperm". The story ends just over three months after the vasectomy. Things have improved greatly, and are continuing to do so. Darrel says He's "About 70% healed" at the time of writing. |
| Dr. Nick Added Early 2000 Updated |
A story about post operative problems (resolved) including blood in ejaculate. He concludes "It's now just about 8 weeks since the procedure (I can't really call it "surgery"), and I have *no* regrets. My wife is grateful to a degree that decorum prohibits me from describing here, and like I said before, I feel almost completely normal." |
| Duncan Added June 25, 2003 Updated |
Duncan calls his story "The unripe Kiwi fruit". Written in the form of a diary in the days following his vasectomy. He had a haematoma at the time of writing. He says:- "Three year old son is very concerned about his Dad's sore goolies and has taken to examining his own every 15 minutes". |
| Eric Added October 1, 2006 |
Eric's procedure was painful. He recovered pretty normally, but the discomfort never went away. His story is written a few months after the procedure and he's currently waitintg to see a different urologist about it. |
| Euan Added October 2002 Updated April 19, 2003 |
Prior to his vasectomy, Euan had a varicocele. He was assured that it shouldn't make a difference to vasectomy. If he had been told that the varicocele "might" cause problems he would not have gone through with it. "What I am left with is what I would describe as a more sensitive left testicle. I'm going to be stuck with that but it does not prevent me doing anything including cycling with suitable support." He concludes that "I would urge anyone with a varicocele to think long and hard and realise that whatever the risks are for the normal treatment it is 100 times more risky with a varicocele." |
| Ganymedes Added January 24, 2009 |
This exceptionally well written story covers Ganymedes experience right through the decision process to nearly a year post vasectomy. The vasectomy recovery wasn't the advertised "Couple of days rest", and the story deals with this, and all of the emotional and mental fallout from it. Women reading this section are advised to read this story in particular - you will understand your husband a lot better as a result! |
| Giraud Added October 18, 2002 Updated Feb. 18th 2003 Updated July 9, 2004 Updated August 9, 2004 |
"Childfree vasectomy with a history of prior
testicular pains" is the title. In 2002, Giraud concluded"
Assuming I do not suffer future pain, this was a great
decision. The sex seems as powerful as ever, and I'm sure
once I am given the all-clear, the freedom will be
great!" The first update deals his thoughts about being sterile, and discusses aches and pains during since the procedure. In the second update things have moved on, and he has had an open ended conversion. In the third update he says "I still consider myself in the "too soon to tell" category, so I don't want to try to draw conclusions, but what I have observed so far is that my left side seems in better shape (no real pain, and no pressure). I am back to wearing boxers, which are actually more comfortable (no pressure on the balls!). I biked 26 miles with my wife Sunday, and yeah, it was sore somewhat on the right side, but not too bad; just popped a couple of ibuprofens." |
| Graham Added February 18, 2001 Updated |
"Things that go SNIP in the night!" Also in the humour section. The story also has a link to Graham's own site about his family's move from England to Denver, Colorado. He concludes:- "Just for the record I would add to my story that I needed FIVE tests before being given the all clear, plus I'm sad to say I'm one of the "2%" that's suffered epidipimitus (if that's how you spell it!) regularly since the operation. Sometimes it's really uncomfortable for a few days at a time and I have to take Tylenol. I'm still glad I went through with it though." |
| Greg #2 Revised version added March 24, 2007 |
Greg had his vasectomy in 1990, and a subsequent reversal for PVP, and later on an epididimectomy. Greg is the founder of the Canadian PVP Assoiation |
| HP Added October 24, 2004 Updated Nov 4, 2004 Updated Nov 20, 2004 Updated 23 April, 2005 |
"Reading the PVP stories on this site gave me anxiety and panic attack for nothing. I say cleaning my teeth was a lot worse". However, he did have problems for a couple of months. At the 6 month point, he reports that "Finally, after 4 months of this slight pain on the left side, it just went away w/o any treatment". In addition, it took 6 months and 4 samples to get the all clear. He concludes "Vasectomy is a personal decision that you have to make and be prepare to deal with any undesirable consequences. For me, it's a worthwhile decision that I'm not regretting and would recommend to my close friends with some cautions". |
| Keith Added March 4, 2004 Updated November 8, 2008 |
"I had a vasectomy between two & two & a half years ago. About ten days after the surgery I resumed having sex and was surprised to find a very reduced sense of pleasure during orgasm. The best way to describe the feeling would be to say that the sensation within the testicles was far less pleasurable, especially near the end of the orgasm, followed by a slightly uncomfortable feeling of what seemed like the testicle contracting. I just wrote this off as the first time after the surgery & thought it would be back to normal the next time. Unfortunately it didn't go back to normal." There are two updates to the story, one 9 months after the story was originally posted, and one two years after that. The updates follow Keith's struggle to get the medical profession to accept the cause of the problem, and the decisions on what the best treatment approach is. |
| Jeff Added November 24, 2000 Updated |
The first part is written 8 days after his vasectomy, when he had been diagnosed with an infection and had just started the antibiotics. Two days later he reported much improvement, and the only problem being "getting my wife in bed with 3 kids and long working days...you get the picture!" |
| John G Added February 15th, 2003 Updated 14th July 2003 |
John and his wife decided on a vasectomy after deciding further children were too risky. He had a granuloma afterwards but no regrets. Unusually he had a general anaesthetic. The update is six months after the vasectomy, and unusual twist to the tale... |
| Ken #2 Added May 25, 2003 Updated June 13, 2003 |
Ken had his vasectomy primarily because "My wife was long convinced that vasectomy was the way to go". His first sample showed he was still fertile, his doctor suspected a third vas and discussed a second vasectomy. However, he was given the "All clear" after sample 3. Ken and his wife didn't communicate effectively over birth control, and he regrets his vasectomy because they might have found a different way if they'd have talked properly. At the time of the last update (less than three months post vasectomy), Ken was having occasional pains from sperm Granuloma's. Unfortunately no further update. |
| Nick Added August 6, 2005 Updated September 30, 2006 |
Straightfoward story from the UK with some good
practical advice:- "One thing I haven't read in any of the
other stories here - try and have a crap before your
operation and don't eat too much, because afterwards
sitting on the toilet is the last thing you feel like
doing! I found sitting on the seat without any support to
my balls quite uncomfortable - by the next day though it
was fine. So avoid celebrating after the operation with a
curry!"
|
| Paul #3 Added December 8, 2001 Updated Dec. 21, 2001 |
Paul had a severe haematoma, and this necessitated emergency surgery. In the update, Paul said:- "When I went in this morning to get the dressings changed, it was infected. So the GP put me on a course of Augmentin 500mg. Well, at least Christmas doesn't look as grim as I 1st thought 'cos at least you can drink on the stuff :) On a brighter note there's no internal pain (which *would* worry me) & I'm sure, over time, the swelling will go down (still a pretty big hard lump in there, but it's much smaller than it was)...". He also talks about vasectomy politics. |
| Paul #5 Added January 24, 2003 Updated March 23, 2003 Updated July 15, 2003 Updated July 30, 2003 Updated August 29, 2003 Updated May 8, 2004 |
Paul did his research thoroughly, and decided what procedure he wanted. He opted for closed end after discussion with his doctor, but he had a complication during the procedure. Plenty of useful, practical advice for anyone considering. After the procedure, Paul had ongoing discomfort. The updates deal with the discomfort, and it's medical treatment. In the final update 1 year 3 months later Paul says:- "Currently, I consider myself recovered. The left (troublesome) epididymis is more swollen than the right, and the level of swelling varies throughout the day from lump to a larger mass. But there is no pain unless I squeeze just the right spot (right up against the testicle), which is hard to accidentally. In fact, I've taken some shots from the toddler (changing diapers) and it feels good as new. Back to doing lawn work pain-free (that took about nine months, however) and basically all normal activities." |
| Peter Added early 2000 Updated June 26, 2003 |
Peter is from Singapore. He had to go to the ER when the stitches burst and the wound became infected. All ends happily though. Peter contrasts the usual advice of the west against the eastern view of the procedure. |
| Recentlyfixed Added September 17, 2003 Updated Feb 24, 2004 |
Recentlyfixed didn't really want a vasectomy, but decided to go ahead with it as "I decided I didn't want to hear about this anymore, and would get it over with". He was largely unprepared for the procedure, and wishes he'd done more research beforehand. At the time of the last update, he had "Low to moderate" occasional pain. The later part of the story deals with his efforts to find a doctor and get a resolution to his concerns. |
| Richard #3 Added May 14, 2002 Updated March 29, 2003 |
"31 days
to go". Richard had a varicocele and aches and pains in the
testicles/groin area. He had to decide if he was to have a
vasectomy or not. His story is in the form of a diary and
concentrates on the decision, the build up to his scheduled
date. Will he or won't he??? Well, he did eventually, and the
updates he has added since deal with the "all clear" and a
post op granuloma several months afterwards. Richard has since sent in pictures of his Prince Albert piercing, and they are included at the bottom of the story. |
| Robert Added January 26, 2007 |
Details problems that set in a couple of years after the vasectomy. |
| Scott #4 Added July 2, 2006 Updated October 22, 2006 Updated March 24, 2007 |
"To
summarize my story, my vasectomy in March, 2005, has resulted
in severe scrotal and inguinal pain has impacted every aspect
of my life: the constant pain has hindered me in my role as
an active and happy father, hampered my job performance,
limited my exercise and leisure activities, and virtually
eliminated sexual activities with my wife of 16 years, just
to name a few effects. I took a major step yesterday by
undergoing a vasovasectomy (reversal). Here's how it all
began:" The first update was posted October 22, 2006 and there is a huge improvement since the reversal, and the secopnd update 8-9 months post reversal the report is that he's virtually pain free. Scott wants his story to be an inspiration to others that are in the position he was. |
| Stephen Added March 16, 2000 Updated |
Stephen's story it titled "Why vasectomy is the right decision, and a titanium clips horror story". He concludes:- "After all that, I would still do it again. Procedurally, it's less inconvenient and uncomfortable than having your teeth cleaned. In fact, I would rather have a vasectomy than get a tooth filled. I can't believe I was so foolish not to have it done years ago when it would have meant something to my wife." |
| Steve #5 Added January 5, 2003 Updated Feb 7, 2003 |
"A difficult procedure with complications - and an update of how things turned out" is how this one is billed. Steve says "I had a vasectomy two days ago. It did not go well, and I still am not entirely sure what to make of what happened." The story is about the procedure, and there is one update a month afterwards, and a second one month after that dealing with the "samples". He finishes his story by saying "My wife is taking the next one in if she wants final results." |
| Steve & Lisa Added October 27, 2001 Updated Mar. 9, 2002 |
Two stories in one - from both partners viewpoints. Lisa's story is the original, and Steve added his story later. Steve had a whole host of problems, and went on testosterone replacement therapy. He ultimately had a reversal. Added to the reversal page also. |
| Stuart #2 Added August 22, 2007 |
"I had a vasectomy about 11 years ago after the birth of our fourth child. I saw this as my duty given my wife had delivered our children and took responsibility for contraception up until that time. Overall I considered the procedure to be very successful but admit that I did regret the fact that I could never father another child. I shed a tear on my drive back home from the procedure but always thought this was the right thing to do. I'v suffered from various symptoms since my vasectomy and I have now decided to take the approach of returning things back to normal in an attempt to hopefully rectify these issues - regardless of whether they are physical or mental. I have booked in for a vasectomy reversal next month and shall keep you posted on it's effect." |
| Tony #3 Added February 8, 2009 |
Tony bills this story as "The worst decision I ever made". He suffered post vasectomy problems, and ultimately had a reversal to resolve them. The story documents his decisions, his research into the problems and has some quotes from others with problems. |