cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/29563625
In over 30 years of practice, Dr. Errol Billinkoff rarely saw a man without kids come into his Winnipeg clinic to get a vasectomy. But since the pandemic began, he says it's become an almost daily occurrence.
And he's not alone.
"At first, I thought I was the only one who was noticing this," Billinkoff, who brought a no-scalpel vasectomy procedure to Winnipeg in the early 1990s, told CBC News in a November interview.
"But I am part of an international chat group where doctors who do vasectomies participate and the topic came up, and it's like everybody notices it."
Got one beginning of this year. Still mild ball pain or discomfort sometimes. Still glad I did it.
Damn, what procedure did you get? I had the no needle/scalpel procedure and was basically fine the next day. A couple minor moments of discomfort the first week, then smooth sailing from there.
After almost a whole year you still get pain?! I don’t think that’s normal. It’s should be uncomfortable for maybe a couple months tops.
About 1% of patients report post vasectomy pain syndrome - not common, but it can happen. If your urologist didn't talk about that when discussing potential risks, that's a huge red flag.
On that note, reversal of a vasectomy (reanastomosis) has a relatively high chance to fail, so if any of you are considering one cuz it's often pitched as something you can change your mind on later, I'd recommend some other method of birth control. Vasectomies should always be thought of as permanent; and reversals as a gamble.
And on THAT note, they can go the complete opposite direction and reanastomose themselves cuz our bodies are assholes and seem to always do the thing we don't want it to do. You should have follow up appointments to check your semen for swimmers - DO NOT skip those. You may even want to do them annually or something for the first few years after, but that'd be something to discuss with your doc.
I had mine done a few years back so I don’t recall what was mentioned exactly. I had one of the best in town so I’m sure he said it at some point. It doesn’t hurt to ask the Dr though to make sure it not something else other than that pain syndrome.
I second that. I was good after a few weeks. Something isn't right.
I had a dull ache for about a year, it's pretty normal
My right nut had pain for about 6 months, slowly going away after that. Good luck, hopefully it fades into history
I had a sort of cramping sensation in one of my balls for a good year post surgery. The more active I was, the less bad it was. If I was active then not for more than a week, it would cramp in waves. It's gone now, and I would happily do it all over again. Mild intermittent discomfort for a lifetime of peace of mind.