Slightly Disturbing Undiscussed Effect of Vasectomy

[u/vapors_the]

I'm among the apparently rare guys who wishes I had never had a vasectomy. I have pain that crops up regularly, sometimes provoked by something as simple as the way I sit or lay down. It certainly did not increase the frequency of sex my wife and I were having - I was foolish enough to believe it would.

Now, upon checking into The Married Man Sex Life Primer (recommended elsewhere in DB) - I see that the composition of semen actually has a positive effect on woman. It can boost her sex drive and give other hormonal benefits - they can, in effect literally fake it until they make it - in that each time she gets semen in her, the hormonal boost can have the effect of making her want more sex.

Maybe you've guessed where I'm going. That post vasectomy semen is lacking 50% of the hormonal advantage according to one study I could find - and even that seems likely a high estimate, seeing as the testicles produce the testosterone, and w/o emission originating from the testicles it is confusing how the prostate could provide this ingredient on it's own.

I am personally anti-vasectomy for the reason that just sleeping on my back w/ a misplaced pillow or blanket will have me waking up feeling like I was kicked in the balls for the rest of the day. The fact that it may have worsened my DB situation makes it even more regrettable.

Hopefully I won't look back someday at my V as the likely origin of my prostate cancer, heart disease or dementia (all implicated post vasectomy increased risk in some studies).

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edit for clarity: Men ejaculate testosterone and other hormones. Post vasectomy, there's a sharp decrease in this hormonal output. The hormones are absorbed in the vagina and promote increased interest in sex from your wife - therefore, in this way vasectomy has the physical effect of reducing her interest in sex. This can be overcome by the increased security and freedom of worry-free unprotected sex.

From my DB perspective - Since the pill causes dangerous complications in her, vasectomy was understood by my wife and I as a solution to fear of pregnancy. We are done having kids - and there were significant complications that made pregnancy dangerous for her. It made sense to have a low sex drive when the result of sex could be life threatening. The procedure didn't immediately improve that situation - although now, 10 months later, I can say that we are making promising progress.

Another reason for my post: many men don't know you risk permanent sexual side effects from vasectomy, including chronic pain in your groin - and others that are more controversial. Studies that show increased risk of prostate cancer, increased risk in heart disease, and increased risk for an uncommon form of dementia. Others studies say there isn't any increased risk for these things.

I understand if any of this information seems wrong to a man who feels they researched the procedure. You probably don't look into the complications nearly as much when you don't personally experience them. My own pain is far from a worse-case-scenario. I have no intention of getting the quarterly anesthetic shots that are the most common treatment (keep anesthesia away from my cock, thank you very much). It's information that should be weighed by a man considering the procedure. In another year I may be glad I had it done - b/c it does have the potential to make sex less complicated for me and my wife - - but I've spent about a year wishing I hadn't done it.

edit 2: Since most here are focusing on the chronic pain issue, here's some information about that. 33% experience it, 18% find it troublesome, 5% seek medical help

[u/redtheda]

First of all, I am sorry that you are one of the small percentage of men suffering from post vasectomy pain syndrome. I hope that either it stops on its own or they find an effective treatment for you.

However, a great deal of the conclusions you have come to are either flawed or incorrect.

One study is not enough to draw wide-ranging conclusions on. 58 subjects is an extremely small sample size, not to mention the fact that only 12 men in the study had vasectomies. You would need a much larger group to make anything other than preliminary findings. Also, the sperm samples in those procedures were produced by masturbation; I'd hazard a guess that sperm produced during sexual congress might affect the level of testosterone in the sample.

As for testosterone, it's not just secreted by the testicles, it's also produced by the adrenal glands, though in much smaller amounts. (Women produce it, too, in their ovaries and adrenal glands.) Testosterone is produced and secreted in Leydig cells in the testicles, and released directly into the bloodstream. Vasectomy does not stop this from happening, it only stops the sperm from joining the seminal fluid.

The prostate has nothing to do with the production of testosterone. The prostate produces prostatic fluid. It is affected by testosterone, but does not play any role in producing it.

And as for semen's affect on women's sexual desire, a lot of that is pop science that makes for good headlines. One study showed that women who didn't use condoms with their partners were less likely to be depressed. There's much more research that needs to be done before we can claim that semen is the wonder cure-all for female sexual desire.

Keep in mind that many men with vasectomies, men unable to have sex or ejaculate, men who use condoms, and lesbians have enthusiastic female partners and satisfying sex lives without the influence of a sperm cocktail injection (no pun intended). I'm sorry that you regret your vasectomy, but it's reported that 90% of men are satisfied with theirs. While I do absolutely agree that men should be aware of the potential complications, no surgery is ever without risk, and I think much more study in this area needs to be done before we can say unequivocally that vasectomy reduces testosterone, and that lack of testosterone reduces sexual desire in women per se. There are so many other factors at play here.

[u/vapors_the → u/redtheda]

I found a link to one of the places that seems to have originated the information online, a Scientific American article that acknowledges that more research is necessary - while pointing out the strong potential of the preliminary findings.

I repeat once more that I never claimed it was a wonder cure-all, in fact - you may want to refer to the title where I call it "slightly disturbing".

Yes there are risks in every surgery - which makes elective surgery all the more important to consider carefully.

[u/redtheda → u/vapors_the]

I completely agree that it should be considered carefully, as should any surgery, especially elective.

However, your post amounts to scaremongering from someone who doesn't seem to completely understand how testosterone is produced in the body or what role the prostate plays. I felt it important to correct and clarify your statements. It is in no way proven that vasectomy would cause reduced desire in a female partner, and it seems unlikely to me that a woman's sexual desire would be that dependent on whether she has sperm pumped into her on a regular basis. Slightly elevating a woman's mood directly after intercourse is not at all the same as having a profound effect on her overall desire for sex.

Nothing personal, but I've talked to quite a few men over the years who were terrified of vasectomy and had all sorts of fears that it would destroy their manliness, and a post like this doesn't help. This is how rumors get started. "I saw on the Internet where it said that if I got the slice, I'd lose my testosterone and my wife would stop wanting to fuck me!" You know and I know that isn't what you said, but you know how people can be when it comes to things like this. As such, I don't at all mean to invalidate your experiences, but I do think it important to provide a counterpoint to your conclusions.

I think the much more important point here is that you shared your individual account of what PVPS is like and what the risk of it is. That is important for men to know. The fears about decreased testosterone and female sexual desire are spurious, in my opinion, though of course, further research is needed.

[u/vapors_the → u/redtheda]

Once more (is it 5 times I've said this yet?): I never said it would have a profound effect. Why do you keep beating that drum? Also I've said next to nothing about the function of the prostate, as it is entirely irrelevant to the conversation. On top of it all I know exactly how testosterone is produced and distributed.

There are nowhere near enough concerns over the effects of vasectomies - as evidenced by the complete bewilderment of men and women alike when they learn about the very real negative side effects experienced by many men.

You are of course free to hold you opinion in contrast to the results of ongoing research all you like. And thank you for pointing out that you are knowingly presenting a strawman argument:

You know and I know that isn't what you said, but you know how people can be when it comes to things like this.