Hundreds of thousands of men have vasectomies every year. If you are one of them, you know that vasectomies are a very effective and minimally invasive form of male birth control – much less invasive than the alternative for your partner.
During a vasectomy, a small part of the vas deferens, a long tube which transports the sperm from the testicles, is removed and the open ends of the vas are closed. This prevents the flow of sperm from mixing with semen during ejaculation.
While most men recover fully without issue, a very small percentage of patients report chronic pain after a vasectomy. Post-vasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS) refers to a condition in which mild to severe genital pain can occur after the recovery of a vasectomy.
This pain can occur immediately or even years after the procedure. The pain can be persistent, or it may be isolated, only occurring during ejaculation or intercourse. This pain is much different from the typical and initial soreness surrounding the procedure.
Post-vasectomy pain can be caused by:
- Nerve entrapment
- Severe inflammation
- Sperm granuloma
- Blockage of the epididymis
For PVPS caused by a blockage of the epididymis, a vasectomy reversal can be an effective solution. During a vasectomy reversal, fluid is taken from the vas end closest to the testicle and examined for its appearance and presence of sperm. If there is no sperm or a creamy and thick appearance of the fluid, a blockage is confirmed and a vasoepididymostomy (also called vas-to-testicle bypass surgery) is performed.
During this procedure, the doctor will connect the vas to the testicle above the obstruction in the epididymis, unblocking it and preventing future blockage and pain. If sperm granulomas, inflammatory/scar tissue, or any foreign bodies are present, these can also be treated during surgery.
Are you in the small percentage of men suffering from post-vasectomy pain? If so, it is extremely important to be evaluated by a highly skilled urologist to pinpoint the cause of your pain and get you started on a path of recovery.
As one of the country’s top vasectomy reversal surgeons, Dr. Avila can diagnose and treat you while helping to restore your quality of life. If you are experiencing chronic pain after your vasectomy, please call Dr. Desi Avila at (480) 961-2323 or request an appointment online to find out if a vasectomy reversal is right for you.
