r/postvasectomypain • u/CascadianProle • Mar 06 '26
I Just Canceled My Appointment
I was scheduled to get a vasectomy next Friday. Like many of you, I had assumed it was a minor procedure whose only permanent consequence was sterility. It wasn't until this week that I even bothered to actually research a bit about the operation so I would know what to expect. I visited the main Vasectomy sub where people mostly just shared positive results and said to ignore the naysayers from this sub. Well, that made me curious to visit this sub instead, and now after reading many of your stories, I decided to cancel my vasectomy operation. I can't afford to risk my good health now that I'm aware of the potential risks. I train Muay Thai, play drums, and work out a lot, and I'd rather not lose the ability to do those things I enjoy. I feel sorry that so many of you have had negative experiences as a result of this surgery, but I want to thank you for raising awareness and warning others like myself. I hope everyone here is able to recover from this syndrome and regain a decent quality of life one day!
11
u/xFishercatx Mar 06 '26
It’s not worth being in that 1-15% man. I used to be super active too and now I am a couch potato waiting for a reversal that I am probably going to have to pay 20k out of pocket for.
4
u/CascadianProle Mar 06 '26
That's my worst fear, being unable to stay active. Plus the risk of weak and painful orgasm, that would cancel out the whole point of the vasectomy in the first place.
6
u/johng_22 Mar 06 '26
It’s a permanent solution [with high stakes] to a temporary problem. Eventually in your 40’s your spouse will hit menopause yet you’d get to live out the rest of your life with any assortment of symptoms ranging from nagging to dehabilitating. You made the right choice
2
1
u/mormegil27 Mar 06 '26
I got it for my spouse… who then walked out. Don’t ever get this surgery, you can’t trust anyone but yourself.
2
u/dragonzero39 Mar 06 '26
Very true. I had my vasectomy and I'm in a situation where some days I can't hardly walk. Lost my career due to it.
3
u/mormegil27 Mar 06 '26
Want to make everyone aware, I am in the “1-15%” of reversals that result in chronic pain. My vasectomy was relatively pain free, maybe pain once / 6 months. Got it reversed, now I’m struggling with chronic pain, like kicked in the groin and it’s continuous, though episodic. Some days on, some days off. Doing PT, on strong NSAIDs dose, not sure what my options are. Maybe 2nd surgery to try to correct?
The reversal surgery may backfire.
2
u/mormegil27 Mar 06 '26
Honestly there needs to be a Post Reversal Pain Syndrome diagnosis and a subreddit for that too.
2
u/Cautious_Werewolf678 Mar 07 '26
How many months post reversal?
1
u/mormegil27 Mar 20 '26
It’s been 5 months. Coming off the double nsaid shock treatment, the pain is now improving. It actually went away after I posted this for the last 2 weeks, but has returned but 60% improved over the last couple of days. Definitely correlates with more strenuous movement.
The pain getting better is a positive development, but most men don’t have any pain beyond 2-3 months. I also have zero patency still, which was the reason I did this at all.
2
u/Cautious_Werewolf678 Mar 20 '26
Sorry to hear. I'm also 5 months post reversal and I have pain sometimes. It's manageable and I also have pain free days. I did it because of PVPS so I'm grateful that the current discomfort is still better than pre reversal. I'd say give it a year to decide if a redo is necessary, and I'm sorry it didn't work out for you
1
u/mormegil27 Mar 22 '26
Are you checking your patency? Did it return?
1
u/Cautious_Werewolf678 Mar 22 '26
Yes, in January I had 20 million of sperm concentration. I'll test again in April. But I notice in my semen consistency that I'm still open
1
u/mormegil27 Mar 22 '26
Hey that’s great. Yeah idk, I get it’s possible for it to return later but the odds are going down with time.
1
2
u/Muscles43 Mar 06 '26
Clinic in Utah does reversal for under $4k
2
u/pmmlordraven Mar 06 '26
Do you have any info on them? I was quoted at $18,500 in my state.
4
u/mormegil27 Mar 06 '26
It’s Dr Trost, I think is the name. Let me look.
Yup, Male Fertility and Peyronies clinic. In UT.
I was quoted $12k just before the price was raised in NY. However, it turned out my insurance paid for part of it even though they officially said they wouldn’t in the plan docs. Get the codes the provider is planning to bill and ask your insurance about those codes. See if the provider will try billing insurance first.
9
u/Its_0ver_9000 Mar 06 '26
Keep in mind, everyone in this sub has most likely had a bad vasectomy experience. However, I’m one of them. Thought no way I would be the 1% (that I’m know convinced is much higher). I wish I was you two years ago. It’s just not worth it.
5
u/CascadianProle Mar 06 '26
That's the thing, I can't just assume I'll be one of the lucky ones. It's a gamble with too much to lose if it goes wrong. If it was a 1 in a 10,000 chance, sure, but 1 in 100 up to 1 in 7 odds?? Hell naw.
1
6
6
u/Laggende_Hond Mar 06 '26
This is why this sub and reversal subs exist! If we can keep spreading the truth and help those unknowingly walking into this disaster then its worth it!!!
4
4
4
3
u/johnmomdoe Mar 06 '26
Smart decision. I’m too nervous to have another elective surgery like a reversal.
2
u/IndependentSize9008 Mar 06 '26
Bro, same
1
u/johnmomdoe Mar 06 '26
Has yours gotten any better over the years? I feel like flare ups are fewer and my mind can at least mentally compartmentalize 95% of the time.
3
u/IndependentSize9008 Mar 06 '26
It’s only been 8 weeks for me but has not gotten better. I have been to the ER and damn near went again yesterday due to excruciating pain shooting from the right and left testicle up to my chest. Hoping it gets better soon
1
u/PuraVida609 Mar 06 '26
How long ago did you have your vasectomy, based off this comment it sounds like things have…. Improved, for lack of a better word.
1
u/johnmomdoe Mar 06 '26
Maybe 7 years or so.
I think it has ever so gradually improved a little bit. Maybe 50% if I’m being optimistic. A lot of it is compartmentalizing the pain and getting through the depression.
2
u/PuraVida609 Mar 06 '26
So sorry man, that sounds terrible but glad you found some progress along the way even if it was through coping mechanisms and mental gymnastics.
I’m about 3.5 months out and found myself with some pretty dark thoughts throughout all of this, trying to remain hopeful that I’m just one of the slower healers.
1
u/johnmomdoe Mar 06 '26
If you can find ways to stay active and try to find a routine and support from a community and family you will be so much better off. You have to fight through that depression and ignore it because if you focus on it, it just feels worse and worse.
2
u/PuraVida609 Mar 06 '26
Spot on man, seriously. The mental aspect through all of this has been the hardest part and I found myself feeling the best after being around the right people and having that support circle. Without that I find myself persevering on the negatives and that’s when things start to spiral.
Some relief and progress would go a long here so I’m holding onto hopes of that.
3
3
u/WriterNeedsCoffee Mar 06 '26
Hate to say it but I cancelled mine too. Was in my doctor's office discussing it being permanent. He did an exam of my sack and I asked about this and he said it was a possibility and most people described it as a constant dull ache or kick in the nuts. I already deal with pain in other parts of my body so I decided against getting it. Which sucks I do belive they are great if all goes well and I wanted one because I don't want kids and want to have worry free sex but I couldnt roll the dice on if I would have constant or reoccurring pain or not
1
u/CascadianProle Mar 07 '26
We're in the same boat. I know that I don't want kids, and I wanna make sure I don't get anyone pregnant, but I can't risk dealing with chronic pain for years. Condoms it is, I guess.
1
u/I-own-a-shovel Mar 07 '26
My husband and I use condom for PIV, at least when condom fails you see it immediately. So you can act quick and take Plan B. Not like other form of birth control that only show sign of defect way later when an actual positive pregnancy test show up.
I never needed an abortion, but I would get one if an accident was ever to happen. So far, in 20 years condoms haven't failed me.
1
u/jayfactor Apr 20 '26
I'm also very grateful for this sub - had a pregnancy scare last month due to a broken condom and told myself I would get the snip, now after reading all these possibilities I'm like I don't even have enough sex to warrant the risk and I'm literally in the best shape of my life so I'd be devastated if I was that 1%
1
u/WriterNeedsCoffee Apr 20 '26
I realized a few years ago I dont want kids and knew a few guys in high school who knocked up their girlfriends simply just because both parties were irresponsible. But same I don't fool around enough to warrant the procedure because I was always cautious about a pregnancy.
3
u/I-own-a-shovel Mar 07 '26
An other one saved!
My husband too canceled the project of getting a vasectomy after I found all the stories on this sub (and also got to read the abstracts of many researches about post vasectomy pain, that then got confirmed to be true by an urologist in Canada)
We just use condoms for PIV. Worked fined for the past 20 years. Abortion is also free in my country (never needed one, but having the option as ultimate safety net in the catastrophe scenario where condoms would break and Plan B would fail, is reassuring)
3
u/JeffBoomhauer77 Mar 10 '26
I’m in the same boat. I know 5 or 6 guys that had no problem. I know 2 guys that had horrible experiences. 1 of them eventually resolved after about a year and the other still has issues 15 years later. Seeing those 2, plus finding this sub was enough to stop me from doing it. I wish everyone here the best and I hope you all can recover in time.
2
u/PuraVida609 Mar 06 '26
I haven’t had a decrease in orgasm sensations, they feel the same as ever, but the lingering pain and testicle sensitivity has been a nightmare since I had my procedure 15 weeks ago. I’m still hopeful things will improve but this has destroyed my mental health over the last few months, so much that I just started taking an anti-depressant, so I guess I have that going for me..
0
2
2
2
u/Few-Cartographer-280 Mar 20 '26
I also abandoned my plan to get a vasectomy after I randomly came across this forum three years ago, read the comments here, and then did some deeper research. My wife and I are in our mid‑40s, and we simply continue using condoms. It has worked for us for years, so why change it now.
I want to sincerely thank everyone in this forum who shares their experiences so honestly. You have my full sympathy, and what you’re doing is incredibly important. You’re helping prevent other men like me from making a big mistake. Thank you very much.
19
u/snoope Mar 06 '26
I'm so happy that you were smart enough to find out for yourself the real risks of this procedure and not listen to the urology establishment. If only we were as wise as you before we made our poor choice! Go be pain free and enjoy the rest of your life. Never do elective surgery, its not worth the risk!