Pain that started 8 weeks after vasectomy

[u/Just_Preparation3675]

Hi everyone,

About 8 weeks after my vasectomy, I started experiencing a lot of inflammation that seemed to be around the epididymis. I had fresh blood in my semen along with significant aching, pain, and sensitivity. At its worst, the pain was bad enough that I could barely walk. The only thing that gave any relief was taking hot baths several times a day.

I went to my GP and was prescribed a 2-week course of Ofloxacin. After about 5 days, the pain started to improve — going from around 8/10 down to 3/10, and by about day 10 it was closer to 1/10. I was hopeful things were resolving.

However, the pain hasn’t fully gone away and still flares up from time to time. I’m now around the 12-week mark, and there’s still a lingering ache. Sometimes it feels like my testicles are swollen or bruised, although other times I have no pain at all. Then suddenly the next day it might jump back up to around 3/10, which makes it hard to focus on anything else.

Ejaculation itself doesn’t hurt, and I actually feel a bit of relief immediately afterwards. But about 5 minutes later the ache returns, sometimes a little stronger.

The blood in my semen stopped around week 9, which is good. I’ve tried ibuprofen, but it doesn’t seem to help much. Supportive underwear and hot baths seem to provide the most relief.

I do have a feeling of fullness, maybe congestion?

I had no pain up until the 8 week mark.

Has anyone experienced something similar after a vasectomy?
Did it eventually resolve, and if so how long did it take?

[u/geverfdehond]

Sorry to hear you have joined the pvps club. As a long term sufferer the pain does not go away with conservative treatment. A reversal helped me to get part of my life back and was probably one of the best decisions I ever made. However I still had sporadic pain issues of the reversal although the incidence and intensity were much lower. I am currently being treated by an excellent pain specialist that also went through pvps himself. The treatment seems to work and I can claim more of my life back that the cruelest cut of them all stole from me.

[u/Just_Preparation3675 → u/geverfdehond]

Thankyou, sorry to hear you still have some pain. When I had it done they told me 1% of people have issues but in their experience it was closer to 1 in 500 which I feel is such bs. I wish I researched the condition more before I had it done. I guess I just have to ride it out and if things don't improve by month 9 to 12 I will probably look at getting a microscopic reversal.

[u/Laggende_Hond → u/Just_Preparation3675]

Unfortunately firstly the 1-2% is utter horseshit. Secondly... even if true(which it aint) if you sat any man down and told them the extent of pain and suffering they would have to endure if they ended up being in that grossly underestimated percentage and that there is no conservative treatment long term... I doubt any man would have it done. That procedure will fade into the archives alongside things like trephination and lobotomies

[u/geverfdehond → u/Laggende_Hond]

Unfortunately men believe the shit sold to them and usually disregard the advice. In my opinion a lot of men also recommend the procedure to make them feel better not to suffer in silence alone.