[Closed] Vasectomy any regrets?

Been a few months now and no problems so far. First week was fine, didn’t do any riding. Then did some heavy lifting in the garden and it was sore for a couple of weeks. Been fine since. Had a couple of weeks off the bike but after that I cracked on with winter training. No regrets so far.

None here, 15 years in, bit of pain for the first week, nowt attributable since. Two bouts of epididymitus in those 15 years though, but hardly attributable, especially as I had my tackle badly assaulted in a stem to nads incident previously.

Nope. .. Back on the bike within 10 days, and no problems since (over 7 years now)

No pain here. I did have to watch daytime TV whilst wearing a paper kimono though before it was my turn.

I'm wondering about it myself. Of the people I know who have had it I reckon the odds of having some post procedure issues is about 50/50...but having said that those who have have all been sorted ultimately. I guess you've just got to bite the bullet and roll the dice...a bit of pain and discomfort and time off the bike is not exactly a major catastrophe in the grand scheme of things. Knowing how shit this winter has been and how little bike time I've had, I just wish I'd had it done over the past few months or so.

Mine was fine, the only side-effect being that I can't have children  😁😁

"But if what you meet the right woman?"

If she wants to have kids with me then she's not the right woman...

Just noting to come back and view ... sigh

No issues here either, coming up (no pun intended) on 6 years now. Bit of pain 3 days after becuase I was walking 2 miles to the train and back after 2 days and it was maybe a bit too much too soon. That and I didn’t like my job at the time so I wasn’t going to force myself back to work too soon

Big regrets.  I got the long term pain. 5 years post surgery. I'll keep it short, wound took 4 weeks to close up, seriously swollen. Right side was painless, left was seriously painful - anaesthetic didn't take and he just kept frying me.  He also cut a blood vessel so ended up with internal stitches. On-going lots of pain, referred to Urologist who did an epididymectomy on the left one (nut pulled out, pipes cut away, nut stitched back in) and tidied up the mess caused by the chopped blood vessels.   Still in pain then started feeling crap after about 6 months, so had blood tests - all came back OK except Testosterone - low between 5 and 9 when average is 20.   Ended up on replacement therapy. Injections left me hobbling for 5 days out of every 14 so went back on gel - have to be careful when applied so it doesn't affect my wife.

Sex life has taken a long time to recover and it causes pain and my T levels aren't great even now, maximum of 15.

It's quite common PVPS, and it really messed up my cycling - MTB causes me quite a bit of pain afterwards even now.

I can't even have it properly reversed as one side is missing all the tubing now.   I was due for denervation, but chickened out as I could lose all feeling down there. I'd even asked for them to be cut off !!

It's settled down a bit now, but it's taken a long long time. I still get bad pain on and off, especially morning if I want a lie in.

Mine is an extreme case, but I was left high and dry by the GP doing the op - didn't want to know and even to this day denies it can cause issues. Mine went badly wrong due to the damaged blood supply and further surgery that left righty struggling to make enough T.

My wife regrets it too as she has seen what it did to me.  Plus side, don't have to worry about protection if we do get frisky.

90% go well with some discomfort for a few weeks, but about 10% get long term issues.

My dad had a pretty big side effect after his...

My brother! Had to go back for take 2 ...

Sorry if I put you off, but responses here are going like the 1 in 10.

1 in 3 is for more than usual pain - it's common for bad swelling etc, but should settle down within the month. My second op was actually less painful than the snip, despite it being quite nasty. Swelling was worse second time as the part of the nut operated on swelled badly.

Had it done 4 weeks ago, a no scalpel or stitches procedure. Mild discomfort for around a week after which short easy rides were no problem. I suffered only mild swelling and no bruising. All is good again now would certainly recommend, however can't comment on the longer term pain issues.

Thank you for your post Fossy - much appreciated.

I was semi seriously joking about this at the weekend, and had no previous knowledge, but issues with 1 in 10, 1 in 3, etc?

No chance!

Thanks for the heads up chaps.

The official figures are 1 in 10.

A friend has had problems, but his doc just threatened to cut his balls off - he's not a cyclist though. I was in huge pain riding - had 5 weeks off the bike for the wound to heal, but my was cycling to work sore. Tried the second op, but that made things worse.

I'd tried various pain meds, and unfortunately, most work by 'numbing ' nerves, so when you went back to the doc about 'trouble standing up' they just said - 'oh it will cause that'.  WTF....

Things have taken a long time to settle down, and are only just now getting more normal.  The only advantage I have, is because I'm on replacement therapy, things should be good when I'm 80, although at my rate, it might be the only thing still standing by then !!!

Thinking about having it done. Don't want kids and it would mean the GF doesn't have to worry about pumping her body full of drugs each month.

Does having a vasectomy affect testosterone levels? Will I find myself chickening out on drops and jumps? Will it affect my libido?

PS female sterilisation has risks too.  Look at something else !   My bro is a dentist and he will say do not ever had 'un-necessary' surgery.  My pain specialist also said you won't find a pain specialist who had had the snip !

On balance, most go well, and it's safer for the bloke.

The snip isn't supposed to affect Testosterone if done properly - having corrective surgery did affect mine after one was buggered up. Main issue with low T is you'll feel knackered - I noticed a serious power drop on my bike and couldn't keep my speed.  It does affect libido, badly.

Regretted having heated seats turned on in the car when I drove myself home afterwards.

Other than that, all good.

7 years in here.  No regrets at all.  Running (with tight pants) after 7 days, riding after 14 days.  No long term effects (apart from the no more children thing).  Friend had an infection after his, which was nasty for a while.

No real pain post surgery, nothing a nurofen didn't sort, but I did get a minor infection that meant the wound didn't heal properly and needed 'cleaning out' after about a week or 10 days.... that smarted a bit, no anaesthetic and having your nut sack scrubbed with antiseptic. Took about another week for pain to go properly after that.

Longer term - no permanent pain but if I haven't exercised the apparatus for a while, I can get a dull throb when approaching Billy Mill...... is that TMI?

13 or 14yrs trouble free here ☺️

Dickyboy

Member
13 or 14yrs trouble free here ☺

Probably rhe most unfortunate user name - considering the thread subject.

20 years now without a problem. Some pain afterwards and a week off work as my job at the time involved stairs for 12 hours at a time. Not having to mess Mrs S around with hormones every month is a plus.

Had mine done 5 1/2 years ago , apart from the old chap n his 2 mates going a lovely shade of purple for 2 weeks all was fine. Admittedly I sat on my backside and did sod all for the first 9 days. Worst part of the entire procedure was the extremely attractive nurse holding the end of me while she painted everything with iodine 😀

20 years, no issues, no pain to speak of, back on the bike in a week.

2 years here. I do get the odd ache. Nothing to write home about.

I threw a wobbler during the procedure, which was odd - I’ve had 5 ops under general, no worries at all, but I nearly feinted half-way through. Wife was there to hold my hand. Still down know why. I guess having your tackle ****ed about doesn’t sit well with me.

regrets? Going for a ride 10 days later when I wasn’t ready made me feel sick.

Wife made lots of vague promises about how she’d be less mental after she stopped taking the pill and how she’d be keener in bed... lies all of them! Oddly me mates got told the same...

Oh the best bit! With the modern procedure they don’t stitch - so you have to sit still for 2 days - I don’t sit still for 2 minutes usually. It was a lovely break actually. Watched some films, played PlayStation in peace. Awesome.

My username pre-dates my procedure.

4 yrs post op here. Slight infection on stitches but nothing a course of antibiitics didn't sort.

No after-effects.

In common with most of my mates, i was gutted it didnt lead to more sex.

Someone on here in a prev thread reckoned that if affected his relationship. To paraphrase, his Mrs treated him like shit because he'd served his purpose and was now a less attractive prospect to a younger model. Never heard that anywhere else, but it makes you think....

Bit sore and achy for me, and bits of pain on and off since, but not often. I regret it in hindsight, but only because I was diagnosed with prostate cancer 4 years later, the treatment surgery for which cut off the supply anyway 😎

Had the baby chutes cut about 8 years back.

A small ache occasionally but no letters from the CSA which is genuine pain.

No regrets.

Had mine done a couple of years ago, few weeks off the bike & all good

Fossy, sounds terrible mate!

25 years now, no problems at all.

All good here. Tingly on the car ride home, then nothing. Back on the commuting bike two days later, back to riding a decent distance after a week. Procedure took 15 minutes and they even gave me a bowl of soup and a round of sandwiches. My wife was most put out (and rightly so) by the stupidly pampered care I got compared to the crap she had to put up with twice when actually having our kids removed from her. I tried to protest the wheelchair ride down the corridor from the private room to theatre and back but they weren’t letting me walk.

The only miserable part of the process was having to knock out a sample while locked in a small hospital room a few weeks later.

Over 30 years for me.  No adverse effects (except a bit of pain windsurfing a few days after, in December). Testosterone levels seem good. No complaints from anybody :o)

I don't [i]think[/i] my testosterone levels have been affected, wouldn't be such a baldy ****er if they had.

Had mine done 6 months ago. Local GP does minor procedures. Very strange lying on a table with my GP one side and the nurse the other, chatting away. They gave me some diazepam an hour before, which was quite nice. Casually chatting while he did the procedure. Worst bit was the anaesthetic, I'm not gonna lie. 2 "swimmer-free" samples provided and back to business, so to speak.

The only downside was the place I had to take my samples to is 45 mins away on a good day, and the doc told me I had to take the sample in within an hour. Wasn't sure whether to produce the sample at home and risk the drive / traffic or use the collection centre's loo. I did it at home. Couldn't see myself knocking one out in a public toilet!

Mine was 18 months ago. Not too bad, although I sometimes find the right aches.
The bad bit was that it didn't work! Failed the 'tests afterwards

I'm a month short of the pre all clear tests (hopefully).  Had quite a bit of pain (think residual kicked in the nuts kind of pain) for a week due to a clamp failure and a lot of rummaging.  Doc was also a little tight with the anaesthetic.

I tried the turbo in week 3 and was back off it in under a s minute. Week 4 was ok and now no issues.  I just wouldnt rush getting back to exercise as pain and complications seem too much to be worthwhile.

Not sure Id repeat the process.

Regrets? I've had a few. But then again, too few to mention.

I had mine done on new years eve just over a year ago.

It was something different to do for a day. I knew everyone working in the operating theatre which was slightly awkward but I got over it.  The wash down before the cut was almost pleasant.

The stitches were uncomfortable so I removed them after a few days. That was very satisfying. Tested things out with the Mrs after 4 or 5 days. Rode the Puffer a couple of week post op.  Never any serious pain or discomfort and no babies (or increase in sex for that matter)

They used clips not knots on the tubes.  Sometimes I get a feeling like one of my ball hairs has caught on my boxers, a slight twang, nothing sore but definitely noticeable but this is attributable to the clips apparently. I'm told clips are better if you ever want to try and reverse the op. I think I would probably get tubes tied rather than clipped if I was starting out again.

I am booked in to have the snip on the 10th March. I wish i had not opened this thread :).

My surgery was hideous.

They played James Blunt through the procedure and it seemed to go on forever and I was in agony until I asked them to turn the whiny faced git off.

Apart from that it was absolutely fine. No pain, only mild discomfort for a few days.

My neighbour has a similar story to fossy. The pain is so great, he has problems sleeping and has to take ketamine in order to control the pain. He's had various bits and bobs removed to try and help and it's all had a massive effect on his life, which he delights in telling people who meet him for the first time.

He's probably the worse case scenario and I guess statistically it's very unlikely to happen, but if you are thinking about getting it done then consider that there is a slim chance of it going very wrong.

Had it done 15 yes ago for the same reasons as Alpin. Lot of laughter in the room with two 'getting on a bit' nurses and a bag of pigeon decoys I had bought on the way there. No problems and no regrets and still firing off all cylinders. Well done NHS!

What is this?

Snip Advisor?

No probs here. Had mine done in Jan. was back on the bike a week after with no complications. Very small aching but no issues. I did bang my balls on the seat on last nights ride (need a dropper) but ok this morning. Just waiting to check my load for any swimmers then I can shoot freely without worry.

2 years ago almost to the day. No majors for me other than the urologist doing it running late and me having to make her count to 5 before she started. My quips and jokes didn't really get any traction either.

I was really sore about 4 days after but it passed in a day, no majors since. Occasional twinge but it all works fine. I did see a noticeable uptick which sounds like the exception, just don't tell my wife ...

Had mine done 25 years ago , bit of pain for a day then back at work the next and on the bike pretty soon after .

This doesn't sound too good

onewheelgood

Subscriber
20 years, no issues, no pain to speak of, back on the bike in a week.

20 years and still not back on the bike 🙂

So what you're saying is, it didn't really make a vas deferens?

Had it done a few months ago.

Op went great. I guess. I found myself more than usually squeamish with someone poking a miniature scalpel around inside my nutsack.

Great, that was, apart from the post-op infection I developed in the right nad. Size of tennis ball. Had three flavours of antibiotics before it was halted and reversed. Any further and it would have been into hospital as the infection was spreading outside the nads. Still, that can happen with any operation.

Small amount of on bike pain for a month or two, just a bit achy after 30+ minutes in the saddle.

And then sometime later, the trip to a cheerless side room of a not very close by hospital, with a folder of "adult material" to supply a sample.

Otherwise all as per promised, and it's now open season on rumpy pumpy.*

Although I do get the impression that doctors underplay the post op effects. And the frequency of long term pain.

* no, wait, we still have two nippers running around the house - so actually nothing has really changed...

So what you’re saying is, it didn’t really make a vas deferens?

Good work 🙂

Been thinking about this on and off for a few months now and bottled it.

Who went NHS or private? And if NHS how long did you wait?

Seriously thinking of just cracking on with it so going to book an appointment with gp but it will need planning around work for the op. My time off this year is already accounted for and I really don’t want to be at work in pain/distracted.

Also, how long before you can get back to it? Obviously still chance of pregnancy if not careful at first/until all clear given. Do you have to wait a certain amount of time?

I went NHS, but my local NHS Trust outsourced it to Marie Stopes anyway - so quite a long wait to get to the top of the NHS list (few months) but then one day I got a letter asking me to phone to make an appt, and after that was just the same as being private.

Or at least as private as it's possible to be when you've just walked, naked from the waist down*  across the room under the gaze of three strangers, climbed on to a table, and then a nurse has just pulled your cock and balls through a hole in a sheet and is now merrily painting them (yes, with a brush) with iodine solution.

* but leave your socks on dear, the floor's cold - great look!

As I said afterwards - after that they could have done what they wanted as long as they were quick, accurate and didn't make eye contact.

Funnily enough I’ve just been on their site and it actually says you can ask your GP to refer you to them in some areas.

£500 private. There at least.

Timescale and flexibility will be key for me so. Need to book in with GP and start the ball rolling.

Awkwardness will be high I’m sure.

No regrets here either, the pill had started disagreeing with Mrstaxi and other methods weren't really satisfactory ☹ so a no brainer really.

"Mine was fine, the only side-effect being that I can’t have children  

“But if what you meet the right woman?”

If she wants to have kids with me then she’s not the right woman…"

Just curious on this. Did you have it done on the NHS ? I got the impression that they weren't keen on doing vasectomy's on single men without children. My consultant wanted to see Mrstaxi and the whole thing was very much a joint enterprise.

No problem with mine about 15 years ago.  Only regret is I had it done after having a child and not before.

Had mine done last Thursday, proccedure was ok, a bit uncomftable but nothing too serious. Post op Thursday wasnt too bad, Friday was ok, saturday was fine... Figured that I should "clean the tubes" so to speak as i was curious if id see blood. And if jt all still worked. Thankfully it did and no blood 😀

Coached mini rugby on sunday morning and man do i regret the little running i did. My right nut is waaaay more bruised than the left, and did not appreciate being bounced around an under 7's rugby pitch.

Nowhere near as bad as it could have been, radio 2 playing ace of bass, all that she wants (is another baby) as the doctor was just about to make the cut however wasnt needed.

Taxi25- I had mine done on the NHS at age 30 and childless, wasn't single, had been with the same girl since 21, which was when we started asking but despite neither of us wanting kids they wouldn't do it. Then when at age 30 we moved to Scotland they said yes. No idea what changed.

Done on NHS 25 years ago. Tender for a week. Otherwise no issues.

RDL-82
flexibility will be key for me

Usually it's rigidity that's preferable. 😜

Then when at age 30 we moved to Scotland they said yes. No idea what changed.

Didn't want to risk more English people?

They [i]did[/i] seem keen now I think about it. Actually I'm not even sure it was [i]me[/i] that asked [i]them[/i] now.

Need to book in with GP and start the ball rolling.

Any balls start rolling and the cut was too deep.

@matt_outandabout and @Sandwich

Veey good, I guess I walked straight into those!

Talked with missus not long ago. She’s not fussed either way. Neither of us want more kids though. Seems the best way forward to me.

onewheelgood

Subscriber
20 years, no issues, no pain to speak of, back on the bike in a week.

20 years and still not back on the bike

Took me a while to see what you were getting at.

But yes, I'm really looking forward to it. They say you never forget.

Had mine done 16weeks ago and now waiting to get the all clear letter.  No regrets what so ever.  I took it easy for the first 2 days and then went back to normal work, but not lifting much.  I booked a weekend at BPW for 10 days after the op and had no pain on a bike what so ever.  I did have a small crash on 50 shades and feared for my sack, but all was good.  I had no swelling or bruising at all and no issues 16 weeks down the line.

My consultant wanted to see Mrstaxi and the whole thing was very much a joint enterprise.

Let me get this straight.  Your consultant wanted to see your wife regarding your vasectomy.  WTAF!  Surely, your reproductive rights are yours alone?  If as men we can’t oppose the abortion of our own child (Pro choice for women BTW.), what the hell has a choice men make about their fertility got to do with their partner...?  I’m all for consideration and making a joint decision, but the consultant had no right to check.

In the opposite situation, when my wife had a caesarean, she was asked if she wanted to be sterilised - no one checked with me.  Not that I think they should have - but it should be a level playing field.

Strewth!

"Let me get this straight.  Your consultant wanted to see your wife regarding your vasectomy."

Yes he certainly did. As far as I know it's still the same. The whole process was us being seen as a couple, and it being a joint decision. For me it wasn't a problem because it was exactly that. But I get your point I've never heard of men being involved with their partners sterilisation or hysterectomys. But perhaps their more often done on medical grounds not just as a means of birth control.

3 years ago and no issues and was snowboarding ten days afterwards. Knocked one out the afternoon of the op too. 😉

My consultation didn't involve mrsmonkfinger. The consultant did ask a few variations on the question "what if you or her want kids in the future".

Not sure how they would have rolled if we'd been childless or if I was single, but I'm with jamj on this, my nuts my choice.

Vasectomy any regrets? - yes, I wish I had it done when I was 18 years old

Knocked one out the afternoon of the op too.

Good effort. I hope the op had finished by the time you did that though

Testosterone slightly increases after the op actually.

6 years or so here, no problems beyond a day or two of discomfort and ribbing from the Mrs along the lines of its nothing compared to childbirth

All clear took ages as they kept losing the samples. I feel sorry for the courier mainly.

My time off this year is already accounted for

Don't you get time off for hospital appointments, rather than having to book it as leave?

Who went NHS or private? And if NHS how long did you wait?

NHS, although the procedure was done in a different GP surgery on a private basis, the 'theatre' looked like a broom cupboard.

How long did I wait? From getting the nod to the knife going in was 5 days, I remember being told and being a bit shocked, I was hoping for a nice long NHS style 6-8 week wait to get used to the idea... shame.

Getting the okay took months, it's not terribly efficient - phone up GP "I'd like to be neutered please" okay, you'll need an appointment - 3 weeks.

3 weeks pass...

Walk into surgery "hello, what can we do for you today" "I'd like to be Neutered please" Okay - 5 min chat about it, easy to do, hard to reverse, NHS won't reverse it, blah blah blah. Come back with your Wife so we can all chat about it.

Another 3 weeks.

Wife and I both walk in - "what can we do for you today"... okay, they'll make the referral to the guy who actually is going to do the biz.

Another 2-3 weeks, this guy knows why I'm coming - although he nearly turned me away, because I'd got the sign-off from the wife at the previous meet I didn't think she needed to come - he asked me 3 bloody times to confirm yes my wife knew I was getting it, no I didn't want any more kids (I didn't want the 2 I've already got) yes I've got once of each so I wont come back crying because I want the full set - finally he agreed to do it, only because my wife would be coming with me to have the op and actually made a note to remind him!

5 days later - bosch. Done.

As above, yes, you pretty much have to have your partners permission to have the op, it really annoyed me, if the roles were reversed there would thousands marching the streets with pitchforks and torches, but I guess that's the way it is.

As for the post-op test. I had to 'produce' a specimen and get it to the hospital before a certain time, 10:30 I think, gave me a few hours, no need to race across town with a tube of jiz in my pocket. I drove in a rather relaxed way actually, I don't know why... I was meant to give to specimens a month apart and despite promising I would, the Mrs took the piss so much I didn't bother with the second.

I'm not sure if it's different for private clinics, but you're not actually allowed to produce a specimen on-site, not in South Wales anyway. They don't have a Masturbatorium on-site and it causes all sorts of legal issues if you pop to the toilet to bang one out.

So what you’re saying is, it didn’t really make a vas deferens?

Well done, not sure how you pulled that off..

I had mine done 4 years ago, no real issues with the procedure but still occasionally get an ache, like I've just been punched in the balls. It can last a few minutes, a few hours, a day sometimes, no apparent rhyme or reason, I also know surgeons who won't have it done.

I'm surprised about about the amount of people who have been asked for wifes consent, this seems very old fashioned and unfair.  My GP ask if I had discussed it with Mrs but that was it.  We do have three kids so I wonder if I would have had more of a grilling otherwise

I wonder idly whether age makes a difference - you're more likely to be asked "are you really sure?" if you're 20 than if you're 55 maybe?

We do have three kids so I wonder if I would have had more of a grilling otherwise

I have three kids and had to get my wife to sign off on mine and attend a "counselling" appointment.

I’m surprised about about the amount of people who have been asked for wifes consent, this seems very old fashioned and unfair.  My GP ask if I had discussed it with Mrs but that was it.  We do have three kids so I wonder if I would have had more of a grilling otherwise

Agreed.

The 'sold' to me as a chance to let you both know all about it, but I learned when I turned up alone that really they want sign-off from both parties.

The reason they gave to me was that a reversal was painful, difficult and not always successful (success rates are as low as 30% in some cases) so they want you to be sure, but then went on to say that it wasn't available on the NHS and "we've had Men come in to have it done without telling their partner" so really they want you both to be sure.

Like I said above, I can't imagine having to pop along with the Wife to give my consent for anything, nor should I have to.