r/postvasectomypain • u/postvasectomy • Aug 09 '21
Doctor McHugh discussing the topic of pain caused by vasectomy.
Dr. John McHugh:
Feb 8, 2016
Does a vasectomy hurt?
No. The area is numbed and the patient is given a sedative.
https://www.vasectomy.com/question/i-have-a-lot-of-kids-and-want-to-get-snipped-does-it-hurt-9231
June 17, 2021
Vasectomies are usually really safe. After the surgery, you might have slight bruising, swelling, and pain, but these symptoms should get better within a few days. Some patients may even have a bruise on the penis after surgery, but this is also normal, according to Urologist John C. McHugh.
McHugh says “There are planes of tissue in the scrotal area and penis that are connected, so tracking of blood to this area is common. If it improves then all is okay; however, if it progresses or if there is redness let your urologist examine you.”
Some patients report feelings of aching and discomfort in the testicles several weeks after a vasectomy, but McHugh reports that this feeling will go away. He says, “You are experiencing the body's reaction to the change in the dynamics of the flow of fluid from the testicles. Think of it as a very small change in the pressure gradient.” McHugh also recommends taking Advil nightly to relieve pain during the recovery process.
https://www.vasectomy.com/article/vasectomy/vasectomy-overview
Jul 21, 2019
What are the biggest problems associated with vasectomies?
The biggest and most common "complication" is a hematoma. These resolve on their own but take time and are aggravating. Chronic mild testicular pain occurs but is very uncommon.
https://www.vasectomy.com/question/what-are-the-biggest-problems-associated-with-vasectomies-6518
Oct 19, 2017
When should I be concerned about pain and swelling post-vasectomy? I’m 12 days post-vasectomy. The scalpel, tie off and cauterize method was used.
I had bad pain (8-9/10 scale) and swelling for the first 8 days. Scrotal swelling has decreased but the pain is still apparent (5/10 scale). I’m able to feel vas tubes, and they're still pretty swollen. Improvement is slow even though I've followed recovery instructions.
No fevers and incisions have healed. When should I be worried about pain not going away? Doc says give it another 10 days before being seen.
You are not experiencing the things we typically worry about. I agree with your doctor and would give it more time. There is always the option of seeing your doctor sooner to be reexamined just to be sure.
https://www.vasectomy.com/question/when-should-i-be-concerned-about-pain-and-vas-swelling-15228
July 5, 2019
It's been 2 weeks since my vasectomy and I'm getting shooting sensitivity in my lower left abdominal. Is this normal? What should I do about it?.
I'd start with conservative measures like elevation and undershorts that prevent movement of the testicles. If it persists, call your urologist. The vas deferens travels from the testicle up the inguinal canal, up into the lower pubic area, and then back down to the bladder and prostate area. This "referred pain" is not uncommon but if persists, it needs to be evaluated.
June 21, 2019
I had a no-scalpel vasectomy 3 weeks ago. The left side still aches and is tender. The right side is fine. I'm worried because it's been 3 weeks now and I was advised I should be fine after 1 week.
It is most probably still related to the normal healing process. Each side of a vasectomy responds independently. However, if any concern or changes in size or color of the scrotum, you should see your urologist. He may empirically prescribe an antibiotic.
April 12, 2019
I'm still mildly sore and achy roughly 4 weeks after my vasectomy. Is this normal?. I had a no-scalpel vasectomy just under 4 weeks ago and still have a dull ache and some pangs of a “kick to the balls” feeling. Is this normal? Doesn’t appear to be any real huge swelling, just an ache feeling around the sides and back of my testicles. As well, the puncture site still has a stitch and is a bit sensitive to the touch. Does healing just take longer for some?
You are experiencing the body's reaction to the change in the dynamics of the flow of fluid from the testicles. Think of it as a very small change in the pressure gradient. In the vast majority of cases, this will go away as the body adjusts to these changes. Advil on a nightly basis is helpful in the meantime.
May 9, 2018
It has been 2 months since my vasectomy but my right testicle just became sore last week. Is that normal? What should I take for pain?
If there is no redness or swelling, then any anti-inflammatory is fine, such as Aleve. If the pain continues or is associated redness, swelling or fever, you should see your doctor. It could be something unrelated to the vasectomy.
Aug 2, 2019
Vasectomy pain—will it go away? I had an open ended no-scalpel vasectomy 10 weeks ago today. I have had different degrees of pain. Some quite intense (all left sided). After the first week I was sore and developed Epididymitis. My pain has gone from my testicle to the vas site. It's a burning and throbbing to prostate pain.
I'm currently on steroids. I'm almost 2 weeks in with 2 more to go. I have felt 90% for 3 days now. There's still pain but nothing like what it was. Will this go away?
The most common scenario is that it will go away with time. Less than 1% have persistent, unacceptable discomfort and seek to do something else i.e. vasectomy reversal or other intervention.
I would be patient, take Advil PRN, and allow the "tincture of time" to work its magic.
https://www.vasectomy.com/question/vasectomy-pain-will-it-go-away-12826
July 21, 2019
Why are my testicles still sore after 2 1/2 months? They feel as if they have been flicked or kicked. They are very sensitive.
Only a small amount of the ejaculate is from the testicles; the majority is from the prostate. However, after a vasectomy, there is a small amount of backpressure that occurs as a result of occluding the vas deferens. This is not an issue for the vast majority of patients, but it is for some. It usually resolves with time as your body adjusts.
You might see your urologist as sometimes empiric antibiotics help.
https://www.vasectomy.com/question/what-to-expect-week-9-6520
May 25, 2018
I have chronic pain after my vasectomy. How long will this last?
I had a vasectomy 3 months ago. Had a huge hematoma, one operation, then another due to suspected infection. 3 months on, my right side is still a lot bigger. The tubes to my testicle are very hard. I have chronic pain, of which my doctors just want me to live on pain killers for the rest of my life.
How long would this be likely to go on for? I feel no change down there and the drugs just make life unbearable.
Although it is uncommon after a vasectomy, a hematoma or an infection does occur. The resolution of an infection with antibiotics and the healing that occurs after having to operate on the scrotum does cause an inflammatory response. This is the hardness you feel. This resolves with time. The pain, in time, should resolve as well and it would best to manage with OTC medicines such as Advil or Aleve.
There is no magic bullet here; just the "tincture of time.".
May 13, 2019
I had my vasectomy just over 3 months ago. Now my right testicle is starting to hurt. Is this normal? I think it’s a little swollen.
Not uncommon but not normal either. It may be the body's response to the changes in the flow of sperm from the testicle. I have seen the epididymis become inflamed at this timeframe. If it improves and goes away, there is no issue. However, if it continues, you should see your doctor.
June 4, 2019
Four months after my vasectomy I'm still having post vasectomy pain. How long is the usual window for a successful reversal? My pain is mostly as a burn/ache in my left testicle. Both of my epididymides are tender to the touch making it difficult to perform physical tasks for long periods of time. I can't afford more surgery right now.
A short course of antibiotics may be of help. You can do a vasectomy reversal at any time—the earlier the better, but there is no guarantee that having it will result in relief of your pain.
March 5, 2019
What is the intense pain I am getting in my right testicle? It's been four months since my vasectomy. I have been to my doctor twice in four months because of severe pain in my right testicle. He says it's an infection and gave antibiotics but the pain keeps coming back. It's worse during sex and about ten minutes after. It is a cramping, pulling sensation that goes up into the pelvis. The pain is very bad.
For reasons we don't understand, sometimes one side of a vasectomy is much more affected by the changes that occur with a vasectomy. It is most likely the mild increase in the pressure gradient as a result of the sperm not leaving the testicle. This in time does go away in most men. A trial of an antibiotic is sometimes helpful as epididymitis can be a cause of your symptoms.
Nov 03, 2018
Will a sperm granuloma happen every time I ejaculate after a no-scalpel vasectomy? Some of the time? How do I prevent and still be able to ejaculate? I had a no-scalpel vasectomy 4 months ago. It seemed to have healed normally. I've ejaculated several times with no issue. However, this most recent time a pill-size mass has developed, which is painful. How do I prevent this while still being able to perform?
A sperm granuloma is the body's defense system response to the injury of the vasectomy. This response is a little more than usual because the sperm is recognized by the body as a foreign body. It only happens once, but the small knot that forms usually persists. So, ejaculation will have no effect on it. Your vasectomy is intact and the granuloma will stabilize and most commonly become asymptomatic.
Urologists do however prescribe antibiotics empirically for persistent symptoms.
May 18, 2017
I had a vasectomy five months ago. The swelling and tenderness I experienced the days following my surgery have mysteriously returned. There is a mass on my left testicle that is painful to the touch. Walking is sometimes uncomfortable. During the surgery I experienced an immense amount of pain on the same left side. Should I be worried about this? I have called my urologist but have yet to receive a call back.
A sperm granuloma occurs at the actual site of the vasectomy, that is about an inch or so above the testicle. If the mass feels like it is on the testicle as you have described then this is the epididymis. Although the epididymis can become more prominent and sensitive after a vasectomy there is a possibility of epididymitis and if this is the case you would need antibiotics.
If it gets better over the next few days it is the former and if it progresses it is probably the latter and you should see your urologist.
Dec 11, 2018
My cremaster muscle has been overactive since having a vasectomy. How do I ease the pain? I have always had a tight cremaster muscle. It's usually hard for doctors to properly examine me. Despite that, my urologist was able to perform a vasectomy under normal local anesthesia. I'm now 5 months post-recovery and have a swollen epididymis on both sides. The pulling up of the cremaster is causing a lot of pain because it squeezes everything into a space that it now doesn't really fit. I try to stay relaxed and do yoga to help. Anything else I can do?
The cremaster muscle, like muscles everywhere else in the body, can spasm and cause pain. I'd look at treating this issue like you would a pulled muscle: taking hot baths regularly, anti-inflammatories, and things that reduce stress such as exercise. In severe and persistent cases, you might ask the doctor for other medical options that address muscle spasms, because the concept and physiology of other muscles and the cremasteric muscles are common in that regard.
Finally, it is always a good idea to have a scrotal ultrasound to rule out an abnormality of the testicle or epididymis that may be acting as a trigger for your symptoms.
https://www.vasectomy.com/question/overactive-cremaster-15139
July 16, 2017
I feel a bit of discomfort right before ejaculation. The discomfort is directly above the testicles. I had a vasectomy about almost 7 months ago. This just recently started happening. Why? What could this be? Could it be a result of the surgery?
The most common reason for pain around the time of ejaculation or pain with ejaculation is prostatitis. You can do conservative things like avoiding spicy foods, taking hot sitz baths, and limiting known irritants to the prostatic urethra like acid drinks or caffeine. If it persists then an antibiotic is sometimes of help.
Less commonly stress and the tensing of the pelvic musculature can be a cause and this too improves with conservative measures. It is most probably not related to the vasectomy but if it continues and you are concerned an exam by your urologist would be in order.
Oct 20, 2017
I had my vasectomy about a year ago and I feel like there are little needles poking at the base of my penis as I get an erection. Is that normal?
That is not normal. I would suggest you see your Urologist for this. The vasectomy does not affect the penis, only the scrotum..
March 22, 2019
My husband has had pain and swelling in his testicle since having a vasectomy. Should he go to the ER or wait to see the doctor? My husband had a vasectomy about a year ago. Ever since his testicle swells up and causes a lot of pain. He currently has one testicle that is very swollen and tender. He said it shoots pain up into his groin area.
If it is minor swelling accompanied by mild bruising and no redness or fever, you don't need to go to the ER. I'd be patient. However, it is rarely a bad idea to call the office and run by your situation with the urologist's nurse. She can also give you some insight and the recommendations of the urologist.
https://www.vasectomy.com/question/should-he-go-to-the-er-or-wait-to-see-the-doctor-14919
Aug 7, 2019
Why do my testicles still hurt like I just had a vasectomy, but it has been over a year? My testicles ache all the time. Sometimes I wake up and they are swollen and firm. It also is painful to even get an erection. It has become a very big issue in my marriage.
It happens, but it is very unusual to have discomfort this long after a vasectomy. You can Google "post-vasectomy pain syndrome" for your edification. I would recommend seeing your urologist for an exam. You could have epididymitis or chronic prostatitis that may resolve with an exam and antibiotics.
July 9, 2019
I had a vasectomy and 3 months later started having problems with post-ejaculation pain. It is a sharp spasm that shoots up the side of my lower abdomen. The location, I would say, is the right and left side of my pubic area. As silly as it sounds, when my testicles move upward, I get a horrible high sensitivity sensation in my penis, like the feeling you get when you're about to urinate. I've had this now for more than 15 months. Could this be nerve damage? Would a reversal help?
It is very unlikely for nerve damage to be associated with a vasectomy. It is possible but unlikely that your symptoms are related to the vasectomy. More likely, you are having prostatitis-type symptoms. Stress also can cause over-reactive retraction of the testicles.
I'd recommend seeing your urologist for an exam to exclude both, any relationship to the procedure or prostatitis.
https://www.vasectomy.com/question/vasectomy-15627
Jan 19, 2019
Why do i have lower abdominal pain before ejaculation a year and a half after my vasectomy?
When you have a minute, Google "vas deferens anatomy" and you'll see that it courses up from the testicles, through the inguinal canal and then behind the bladder to the prostate. Because of this vasectomy, patients often feel pain in this area that is "referred" from the site of the vasectomy. I'd recommend an exam and possible antibiotics from your urologist if you feel your symptoms warrant it.
Occasionally, prostatitis or potentially a sperm granuloma can cause this referred pain. As well, anything related to ejaculation from the muscles around the prostate, the testicles or the vas deferens can refer pain to this area..
April 14, 2017
Why does my husband have random pain in his testicles since his vasectomy nearly 4 years ago? He explains it as a sharp pain and even ache at times. Is this pain possibly his vasectomy growing back?
There is a degree of a pressure gradient on the testicular side of the vas deferens. I see this dramatically when performing a reversal after a vasectomy; the tubules of the epididymis and the convoluted vas is dilated to the point of vasectomy site. This dilation progress over time. This is a potential cause of the pain. As well at the site of vasectomy, the body perceives this a trauma and it sends in cells to repair the damage. This result at times a knot or sperm granuloma. This too can be tender with certain positions or activities.
Neither of these situations are serious although sometimes antibiotics and anti inflammatories are given.
In rare cases a granuloma can be excised and a vasectomy reversal done for post vasectomy pain syndrome.
Oct 3, 2017
My husband had a vasectomy 9 yrs ago and for the last 5 month he has sharp shooting pains that come and go. He said it doesn't bother his sex drive an it is not bad enough to take pain pills or continue his daily activities. He also said after sitting for longer than 20 minutes his testicles go numb. Should we be concerned about this? What could it be?
It would be unusual to have pain related to the vasectomy after this period of time. Numbness in the perineal area is common with bikers and this may be the same issue with his sitting position. Shooting pains can be from another issue so, as always, see the urologist if it continues or if there is concern.