According to my research, there is no conclusive answer to this question. Post vasectomy pain varies from person to person, practitioner to practitioner. In Pollock Clinic’s website, the writers state “There is a well-recognized entity that can present among a small number of men after vasectomy that has become known as a post vasectomy pain syndrome. This syndrome can begin immediately after the vasectomy or many months or even years after the vasectomy has been completed.”
There are many reasons and possibilities behind the pain one may experience post vasectomy. One of them is that the surgery was rough. “A “rough” surgery where significant amounts of tissue and nerves have been disrupted and/ or tied that have caused lingering irritation of the nerves. While this may be a frequent cause of post vasectomy pain syndrome one can imagine that it would be less common in the patients of experienced vasectomists.”
If that is the case, there is a treatment option. “In regards to a rough surgery, this would likely be the most difficult to treat and to identify as a cause of pain. Possible treatments could include exploration of the area to remove scarred or inflamed tissue, manual manipulation or stimulation of the painful area, or just allowing time to heal.”
Another possibility is that a granuloma forms after the surgery, “A sperm granuloma could develop post vasectomy that becomes inflamed and aggravates the surrounding nerve endings. The sperm granuloma is a build up of extravasated sperm at the end of the cut vas tube end. The reason why a sperm granuloma may develop is not well understood.”
So, what are your options if that happens to you? Well, “Treatment Option: In the case of a sperm granuloma, injecting it with steroids or actually cutting out the inflamed granuloma has been found effective in the past. Surgery should always be viewed as a last resort. “
Surgery is not always the last resort, though. Sometimes, “A congestive state in the epididymis from back pressure to the epididymis and testes from performing a closed-ended vasectomy.
Some authors believe that by blocking both the upper and lower cut ends of the vas tube the normal passage of sperm from the penis and away from the epididymis and testes causes a build up of pressure and ensuing pain. Studies have shown that this situation can be prevented to a large degree by performing an Open-ended vasectomy. In carrying out an Open-ended vasectomy, the lower or testicular end of the cut vas is left open, thereby allowing the sperm to drain out of the tube preventing a build up of pressure.”
“In regards to pain resulting from a congestive state from a closed-ended vasectomy, converting that vasectomy to an Open-ended vasectomy or considering a vasectomy reversal have been identified as being effective. Dr. Pollock has had excellent results in relieving pain doing the conversion of closed-ended vasectomy to Open-ended vasectomy. This is also a much simpler procedure than carrying out a vasectomy reversal.“
