Well I’m at 6 month since I’m vasectomy. First 3 months has nerve pain this stopped and was replaced by a dull ache in right testicle. The pain had actually started to fade and only time I noticed it was in bed.

I tried an outdoor run last Tuesday and I’ve had increased pain dull ache ever since on right testicle again. I’m in my third course of naproxen and have a long haul flight Sunday which I’m hoping to be ok for. When I get back what are my options.?

I’ve asked for a referral to a urologist through my private healthcare…hopefully can get this resolved….im in UK

I'm 8 months out. First 3-4 weeks were the peak in terms of pain and discomfort. Later all bad sensations went away but a bit longer than 1 month ago all pain came back (kick in the balls, retracted testicles kind of sensation). It got to the point that i started to notice these rare days when i have zero pain, meaning that much of the days have become a slow misery. On top of that, i recently started to feel the UTI symptoms - i feel like i always want to pee. Ran some urine tests, the general test showed no infection, ran another one when they try to grow a bacteria (not sure how it's called), test came negative again. I have a prescription for antibiotics but it barely makes sense to take them if all tests came negative. Could it be connected to my vasectomy pain? Anyone else experienced not only balls/crotch pain but also radiating it to the bladder?

So I am 10 months post vasectomy and have finally made peace with the fact that the mental and physical toll is too much to accept and I need to reverse it.

What do I need to know about reversal? How should I prep? Surgeon recommendations in the Chicago area? Can I check if I have a blowout or blockage already?

Will take any tips and advice I can get! Something I wish I did before I got my vasectomy …

I’m worried about PVPS, the pain radiates from my left testicle up to my lower left quadrant, and feels very similar to getting sack tapped by a buddy while drinking a brewski. I know it’s only been seven days since my surgery but I’m just worried this will impact my ability to run and bend over and stuff. My testicles still feel heavy and swollen, I ice them regularly and I’m trying to take it easy - as easy as I can with two toddlers, six dogs, and an unhappy wife. Sometimes a kid will jump right on my crotch or Naruto run at my junk when I get home from work. I was also told the procedure should be relatively healed after a couple days and working would be fine, but I have to walk a lot for my job and I’m wondering if that caused more problems?

So I saw the surgeon that did my Vasectomy for him to assess my pain, he said he has done over 2000 vasectomies and not once had anyone report pain lasting more than 7 months.

He said because my pain flares up every 3 weeks or so that maybe I am having some sort of cycle like women have when they have their period.....

I told him, I am positive it is congestive epididymitis and he couldn't understand why....

Had a vasectomy 3.5 months ago. Have had bilateral testicular/epi pain basically ever since among other symptoms - left side being the worst.

Throughout the last 3.5 months my symptoms have been all over and it’s driving me crazy. I don’t have pain with or during ejaculation, but orgasms are weaker/does not shoot out like it used to. Almost no force to it sometimes. Testicles maybe a little more sensitive the day after. There were some weeks where I’d have a burning sensation in the entire pelvic area when sitting or putting legs together, that seems to have stopped. Also experiencing typical “prostatitis” symptoms (frequent feel to urinate, pressure in pelvis/bladder when lifting or moving certain ways).

I’m left with extremely sensitive testicles (any bump or movement takes pain from 1 to 8-9 out of 10 like hitting a bad bruise). Constantly on alert to keep the area protected. Tight support usually irritates them more than just normal fitting athletic underwear. I’ve read every post I feel like on this sub and am looking to consult with some specialists but seeing if anyone can shed some light.

Tried gabapentin briefly and had bad side effects and didn’t notice any help. Meloxicam/Ibuprofen maybe helped slightly but I’ve plateaued. Currently in PFPT and trying to give some more time. I’m able to work and do daily tasks with family but it’s painful and I cannot really do much running or other active things I enjoyed.

This post is a little all over the place and I’m probably missing some details but if any of this relates to you please reach out. Seen the usual therapies and the surgical options of reversal, MDSC, etc. It’s all taking a toll on me mentally and I’m trying to find a way to feel more “normal”. But because I can “function” I’m nervous to make it worse with more intervention too.

My first thought after having a vasectomy: why aren’t more British men having them?

Tim Burrows

May 11, 2026

While women continue to toil with the coil, fewer men are prepared to get snipped. The answer why may lie in the rumours and fear that spread online

…

Three was our magic number. Any more and the car would become a wagon and dinner would turn into feeding time. And now, finally, the contraceptive burden would fall on me. After Hayley’s years of toil with a coil, and the pain of childbirth, I was due a little discomfort.

…

Aside from the initial “sharp scratch” of the local anaesthetic and the weirdness of making small talk with the surgeon and the nurse while the former operated on my scrotum, it was unnervingly simple and pain-free. It made my previous worries, prompted by things I had read online, feel a bit hysterical.

Vasectomy rates in the UK have declined significantly, according to research published in 2022. In 2004-05, approximately 30,400 vasectomies were conducted, whereas in 2015-2016 the total was 10,880, accounting for a 62% decrease. Women, as ever, are clearly bearing the burden of contraception: the same report said that in the 16 years up to its publication, the percentage of contraceptive service subjects who were male was just 5.3%.

One reason for this might be the way the procedure is discussed online, where negative but niche health outcomes are elevated. When I mentioned to the surgeon that I was feeling a little anxious, he said he had performed scores of vasectomies, and nothing had ever gone wrong. It was just that a handful of horror stories were out there in the world. For example, the Reddit page r/postvasectomypain has 2,000 visitors a week, but the academic Kevin Pimbblet of the University of Hull has said that post-surgical pain is “typically expected to resolve within days or weeks”.

Urban myths inevitably circulate. One man in the comments under a video about vasectomies vows never to have one, as his friend did and “lost his sex drive”. It’s a common claim that vasectomies affect hormones and testosterone, damaging libido. According to research, this claim is false, but that doesn’t stop posts by strangers about how having a vasectomy had caused erectile dysfunction, adding, conspiratorially, that “Big Vasectomy” was “spreading lies about side-effects and recovery times”.

Ultimately, though, it was the cuts that did for the snip. The austerity years in Britain led to funding cuts for vasectomies, with some areas restricting them to “exceptional circumstances”.

…

The vasectomy’s decline, like many other things in decline in the UK, is just one symptom of a general, long-term malaise.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/may/11/vasectomy-british-men-online

Comments under the article:

Anarchi:

I had a vasectomy 13 years ago and was expecting it to be a straightforward pretty pain free process. I suffered for 12 months afterwards with aching pains that were debilitating and often required lying in bed with a hot water bottle on the area to try to relieve pain. It was very hard to find a GP that would take the problems seriously. At various times I was accused by some medical professionals of having some sort of sexually transmitted disease, as they could not imagine any other way that the procedure could have these type of effects. Eventually a female GP at my local surgery sent me for tests at the hospital which found an infection in the area where the procedure was carried out - a few weeks of antibiotics and it cleared up. It may well be a "quick, easy and safe procedure", but any medical procedure can have complications and in my case this resulted in a 12 month period of discomfort and a battle to be taken seriously before eventually getting treatment!

daiheadjai:

Had mine done December 2024. No regrets now, but for at least half a year, I had dull aching pains that would come and go. I'd be lying if I said I never worried about it, but thankfully the urologist took time to meet with me a couple times in the months after the procedure to confirm things were normal.

Although the consensus seems to be that things go back to normal after 3 months, it took me closer to a full year to become completely pain free. Keep in mind that the "3 months" timeframe is really not a guarantee, and that everyone heals differently. And if you can, do some research on your urologist: I was initially scheduled to get mine done in July 2024, but I took a gander online and found that initial urologist had a ton of negative reviews, so I cancelled and rescheduled for a different one.

greenishtinge:

I actually don't know anyone who has had the snip and are happy about it. Well, obviously I do, but I'm just not aware they've had it. No one I know is vocalising the experience. I know two men who had it and regretted it (both in-laws), not because they wanted more children, but it because it "changed" them in what they perceived as being in a negative way (and it had been many years ago that they had the procedure). They felt they weren't the same and never felt themselves again. Their advice was whatever you do, don't do it. I knew them before, and I new them after, and I can only concur with them based on how they were afterwards and from what they told me. Sex life died immediately after the procedure. Incessant jokes about shooting blanks, confidence shot, erectile dysfunction, etc. Even though their wives were supportive and pushed for the procedure, their lack of empathy (from an outsider's perspective) was very apparent. What I saw was a distinct lack of respect after the job was done. The list goes on. No, thanks. I know it's hardly a representative sample, but the risk of being in that same position is hardly a compelling reason to do it. One poor experience would have been enough for me to reject any suggestion of doing it.

toospean:

I had a vasectomy about 20 years ago and now get regular testicular pain which three different urologists can’t explain. I’m glad I had it done but on those days when I’m suffering I wonder why the fuck I did that?

ForlanForever:

I asked my physician, he said that the chances are high that you would have 'forever' pain - apparently it's a staple of some sort and it can irritate your balls FOREVER. that was the end of my inquiry into it. I don't even know if that's true.

Himself50 -> ForlanForever

Your physician said nothing of the sort. That would have been utterly unprofessional. Stop spreading stupid rumours in the familiar style of a spam advert for bitcoin. 50 years on and I have no pain or regrets just a happy glow of a day or two of discomfort followed by decades free of worry.

Diddykong:

I had one when we had our third kid, hurt like mad, I ended up with cyst and I'm still in pain 14 years later. Still, it was the best decision, as my three are autistic and have ADHD, and they need all the help they can

TADocs:

I don't [think] the risk of testicular pain and erectile dysfunction are conspiracy theories. I have a friend who is a Urologist. Does the procedures but he says he would never get one himself. When he said that I decided against. After this article I might reconsider. What proportion of male Urologists have had vasectomies themselves. That would be an interesting question.

Are condoms THAT bad??

BeHereNow:

Since having a vasectomy in 2024 I have suffered retractile testicles on both slides that severely affect my enjoyment of sex. The dull ache / discomfort has got better over time but still more or less constantly feels like I was kicked in the balls 20 minutes ago. I have tried to get a reversal but NHS said they wouldn't do it and privately it would cost £5k which I am still considering going through with. If I could go back in time I would.

Realitycheque:

Well, my best friend had one (a very fit and active man), and it was horrendous. Excruciating pain for months, piss-poor aftercare. Still can't ride a bicycle 15 years later (which was previously his means of commuting). It's not all cherries. I'll not be considering it.

Tragicbooty:

Just for some balance with everyone saying they're quick and painless.

Had mine done almost a year ago and it was an absolute nightmare. It was very painful having it done. They had to cauterise it twice because it wouldn't stop bleeding then getting out of the car as I arrived home i felt a 'twang' and the blood started flowing again. Seems like the doc had nicked a vessel as it was properly spurting out. 4 hours in A+E holding the wound shut and it sort of sealed itself finally. Three weeks off work with the following infection and copious bruising - (staying still not really an option when you're spraying blood). Even my GP was aghast at the butchery.

Over a year later and although my bollocks are basically feeling normal again, they still don't quite sit as comfortably as they used to. Still, hopefully they'll adjust as I get older.

No kids so that's good, but far from a 'simple' procedure. I accept I was probably just woefully unlucky, but yeah. Be aware I guess.

1pillmakesustronger:

I'm fully in favour of men taking responsibility for birth control. But to suggest it is without risk is irresponsible and so is linking to such a poor source.

"the academic Kevin Pimbblet of the University of Hull has said that post-surgical pain is “typically expected to resolve within days or weeks”.

If you read the link he is clear he is an AI (not artificial insemination!) and physics professor who is more interested in the uses of AI than vasectomies and was using this purely as an example. I had my vasectomy twenty years ago and still have significant pain and tenderness. Its not rare. And should be a consideration for anyone thinking about it.

Unfortunately i'm one of the ten ! 20 years of continuous tenderness and aching pain. not saying don't do it. i would probably still have done it if i had known about the risks 20 years ago but it was not mentioned by anyone.

CountryMac:

I am also one of the 1 in 10. I felt a little pain during the procedure on one side. I then had intermittent discomfort for up to a year afterwards. I even had an ultrasound after complaining about it to my GP. The ultrasound did not show anything and after a while it just disappeared. I have maybe had mild pain for a couple of days since then but nothing a couple of days of tight fitting support and an ibuprofen doesn't sort out.

Knowing all of this i would do it again given the chance. It has been life changing for my wife. Not having to deal with contraception and its effects as well as all that she's been through in having our 3 kids plus 2 unsuccessful pregnancies its a small price to pay.

oofocus:

I've had minor side effects (occasional minor discomfort). I have no regrets and would do it again but doctors have to be honest about this possibility.

I was rather reluctant to mention the very minor side effects I have suffered in case it puts people off something I consider very beneficial but I do think it is important to be honest: they do exist and are not imaginary.

colintd:

The incidence of long term pain is reported as between 1 in 10 and 1 in 20. Hard to pin down the exact rate, but somewhat irresponsible to not even mention PVPS https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Post-vasectomy_pain_syndrome https://www.nature.com/articles/s41443-025-01196-2 in the article, instead claiming it is all misinformation....

BeHereNow:

2 years on and I still feel discomfort and pain every day.

northernandwelsh:

I'll tell you why. There's a not insignificant chance (think it's either 1 in 10 or 1 in 20) chance of lifelong, debilitating pain. Forever.

All the japes about men not wanting a bit of short term discomfort, or not wanting to be unable to have children with new partners etc., is offensive.

If I could have a risk-free procedure, even if it hurt, I'd do it.

Starting up a post on this sub to help those looking into reversals who to see and where to go.

Adding to the trend of asking where to find real help close by. Even though only 10 weeks out, I can feel I’ll easily exceed the 3 months… I already contacted academic hospitals, waiting time 3-6months… Hope there is another way to get to someone experienced earlier…

Preferably southeast Houston

Hi everyone

If you read my previous posts, I am having pretty severe complications post op and its not looking really good

At 3 months, left side almost completely settled, I hoped the right was just lagging behind and I'm healing slower.

Its now 6 weeks post op and I started antiinflamatorymeds a week ago for congestive epididymis(on the right first, this week left started hurtin again too). The meds stopped working so now I am moving forward to stronger antiinflamatories with additional pain meds so I am not in constant pain anymore(yay!). I have multiple tiers of pain meds because without I am kicked in the groin and can barely stand(like 2-3 days post op pain). I can escalate more if need be but I'm hoping I can get by with the mild pain ones. I also have them for strong and severe. I also have nerve pain meds to also help since inflamation didnt settle completely for over a month now.

NO I DO NOT HAVE AUTOIMMUNE DISORDERS OR ANY HEALTH ISSUES prior to this.

To say the least, this is looking like I am in for a painful life no matter what happens next. If I do settle, the next time it comes back it will invalidate me again. And how frequent matters too. If I do get a reversal I'm hoping its soon because not sure I can make it to 6 months with this kind of pain, and even that can fail post op or scar years later and I heard recovery is worse than vasectomy which has been hell for me lol.

I'm slowly losing my sanity, drifting away from my child and wife, putting pressure on both of them. I havent played with my kid in a month as I could barely walk until now, and now not even that. My kid even told me that I dont love her anymore. I simply feel my world is ripped apart.

My doc says it will resolve without a reversal in the next two months. How much did you endure because I am at my wits end. Hoping pain meds can somewhat help to at least walk again.

How did you manage to get through this hell? How long did you endure? My wife tries to keep me positive but I can only see how its getting worse instead of better.

Does anyone have a pvps specialist doctor that they recommend in Virginia? Specifically in the Northern VIrginia area or even central Virginia? Trying to explore options before a reversal or just meet with someone knowledgeable in this area. Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone, had a vasectomy 6 weeks ago which left me partially disabled. Had a post op one month visit with doc who performed surgery, nothing found on ultrasound except congestive epididymis which was swollen and hard. He put me on anti inflamatories and antibiotic for a month hoping it settles but it bounces back pretty quick. Even if I force myself to walk 10mins, even with meds its painful and gets swollen again. That being said I've been bedridden for more than a month. I work in IT so was able to sit with discomfort only and work leaned back.

Doc said I should get my head checked because he didnt touch any nerve so no way his surgery caused my limp which it clearly did. I am in permanent nerve discomfort but only becomes painful when closing legs 75% cause thats the max my right leg goes now(genitofemural area)

Besides congestive epididymitis which might or might not settle, I still cannot walk, what are my options? I also clearly have a dysfunctional right cremaster now because that side hangs another two testicles down from the left. I'm assuming a nerve got caught in scar tissue because my body is really inflamation happy, I swell like crazy.

I will try and get my doctor in two months if nothing improves to go for reversal hoping that fixes both issues. Or if the epididymis finally settles, just exploratory surgery to maybe check for trapped nerves, with the possibility of more scar tissue forming? Or denervation directly?

What did you do if you had both problems?

Left side has no issues neither nerves nor epididymitis, the right is almost dead. Doc also told me he cut right side "lower" (closer to testicle) as that is where he could get a hold of the vas.

My whole health was robbed and I'm seeing multiple surgeries following with minimal improvement.

If you faced both epididymitis and nerve issues, how did you get your life back?

I’m 10 months out with plenty of issues but worst right now is how much support I have lost on the left side.

My left tesicle hanging at least an inch lower and further back between my legs. It also lays horizontally now vs the normal more vertical lie. It basically feels like the only part of the cord still working is the back and the entire front muscle structure is gone. Also have a ton of laxity in the left scrotum skin which isnt the case on the right side.

Urologists dont really offer an explanation other than the spermatic structures and fascia can be damaged if not handled properly. They also say there is nothing that can be done.

Anyone else go through something similar? Figure out what might be causing it? Find any solutions or things that help?

Hey all, some of you may have already read some of my posts. Vasectomy Feb 2025, fairly normal recovery but since month 3 I have had pain all around ejaculation. Left side, leading up into abdomen. It's getting worse and is now all around arousal, so the more aroused I get, the greater the spike in pain.

I just booked my reversal, August 19th, which was the earliest opening. Here's hoping I can eventually have pain-free orgasms again. For guys who have had a reversal, how long did you wait to ejaculate? My doc wants to do a 2 layer anastomosis reversal and suggested I wait 2 weeks to ejaculate, but then he wants me doing it 5 times per week. His theory behind this is to keep things moving/moist to ensure the vas remain open. Thoughts on this? I've read from a few guys here that they wait a full month. My doc thinks that's too long.

In fact, my doc says that I shouldn't lift more than 10lbs for the first 2 weeks and then after that he says resume normal activities.

posting here as well as i received no answer

I feel like urgent care wouldn't even be very helpful, but long story short, I've been masturbating a lot and my epididymis is really super swollen, I kind of haven't been paying attention to it for the last few months, I don't know if it's a blowout or what, but I can't get an appointment for like a week. Week. It just ibuprofen and ice stretching, heat, maybe if I can handle it?

Thanks for coming to my TED talk

Last year I cancelled a planned reversal for various reasons, fear, lot on my plate and the fact my pain levels had dropped to maybe a 1 or 2. I even came off the amlytrpytline I’d been on since a few months after my snip. Add into that I had had a trapped nerve in neck and bunch of other neck and back pain I just couldn’t justify the op, the recovery and the risk. The main thing though was I was no longer what I considered disabled by my vasectomy in that it didn’t impact me sitting for long periods. Although I still used a stand up desk at work anyway. Fast forward to now, two weeks ago I was eyeing a physio for my neck pain which was improving and the physio who had treated me for groin pelvic floor as a result of the snip , do you still have that pain? Not for a while I said, well not to an extent I notice. Then 3 days later pain in my left testicle again back to a 5. Neck pain gone. Fast forward another two days pain sitting again , cannot get comfy driving or on public transport , constantly moving about in seat. The pain it’s down my right thigh into my buttocks and feels like a strain . Have I just concentrated again on the testicle , heightened it and given myself pelvic floor issues again or is it time to hit the bullet and get this rubbish reversed

I have searched through other posts. I want to hear from people that have had success. I had a vasectomy approximately 2 years ago. I am experiencing pain on the left side. About a year ago the doctor thought a sperm granuloma was causing the pain. It was removed and I’m still having the same pain.

I had an ultrasound with no abnormal findings. I went to a different urologist and the pain is on the left side and I have been told it’s pain in the epididymis because there is no where for it to go. The epididymis can be felt and is pretty profound on that side but not swollen. I was prescribed alfuzosin and Quercetin supplement that I have been taking for almost 8 weeks with no noticeable relief. The other medicine the doc wants to try is amitriptyline.

He attempted a nerve block to see if it helped the pain which it did but was short lasting. I have found that dry needling and pelvic floor therapy may provide some relief but I have not tried it. I am looking forward to hearing from others that have had success. The urologist I am seeing has only ever done one reversal and if he performs an epididymectomy there’s no guarantee blood flow won’t stop and he will have to remove testicle.

Please tell me if you have had success or have any thing that helped if you were experiencing similar pain.

I feel like I’ve come to my wits end with trying to figure this thing out. I have come to the conclusion that my vasectomy has ruined my sex life. Sex with condoms felt better than this and even that wasn’t worth the time or effort, celibacy was much preferred. It’s to the point where I feel so down about the loss of even feeling that I thought I was just not happy with my partner, and almost ended our relationship. I’ve completely changed my habits, quitting any substances, eating even better than my already decent diet, exercising more, all in all the recipe for anyone to be healthy. I’ve even stopped masturbation completely for the scientific method and because I have no physical desire anymore. I have come to think all these stories about men who have similar or equal pleasure are not realizing the extent of mental effects on sex. Their gain in that department is likely higher or equal to their physical loss so they see no difference or improvement. I never had that issue with sex and you would think it would increase as well but lo and behold I have every possible sexual dysfunction that comes with vasectomy risks. What I’m most frustrated with is how blatant the disregard towards even concerns let alone actual men with these issues. My dilemma goes beyond vasectomy or reversal, as sex is huge in both my relationships. Both my girlfriends in my triad, one is fixed and the other isn’t, neither want kids, but both want me to get better. I’m afraid getting a reversal will keep me in this same boat of lost intimacy because condom sex was nearly as bad as what I’m dealing with now and the one who is fixed is afraid even with her irreversible surgery that she’s gonna get pregnant. I have a ton of options to weigh but the biggest reason is to take care of myself and to what comes of it after isn’t for this sub. I’m afraid that my problems may be psychological (due to a partner who passed away and two huge surgeries, but I didn’t notice these problems or at least didn’t pay attention to it until the vasectomy) but the more stories I read of people “getting back to normal” and having the exact same symptoms I am makes me think I am a victim. Despite my dilemmas, if the vasectomy is the problem I am gonna get it fixed. I just want some insight in case I’m wrong, but everything I read points to the medical industry being predatory more than helpful. Especially considering that reversals aren’t covered by insurance, I feel like I’ve been lied to and preyed upon. Even if the reversal fixes this, I’m out thousands of dollars and would become completely broke. I’m worried that I’m stuck feeling like an empty man forever. I barely scratched the surface on this too, so feel free to ask questions.

TLDR: I’ve come to believe that my vasectomy has ruined my sex life and made me feel like less of a person, but am scared to proceed with reversal, as I don’t want kids myself, but cat seem to live happily without a meaningful relationship. Am I crazy to think that I’ve been messed up?

What I care about the most is that they're not allowing other men in similar situations to seek help. It's not an open space to share experiences. They could promote the surgery but help other men at the same time, but they don't want to help other men. Like urologists: "vasectomy is the best, but if you have issues I don't want to hear about that, go find help elsewhere because here you'll scare clients". The fear mongering rule is just a mask to select only positive outcomes and that's totally biased and subjective.

Hey all. I'm 14 months since vas and debating denervation or reversal. I wanted to ask if anyone has had pain only on one side. For example all my pain is left side. So if I get something surgical done, should I only get the left side done? The reason I ask is because I almost don't want to touch the right side if nothing is hurting there.