r/postvasectomypain

If you went the reversal route for PVPS I have two questions.

1. How long did you have your vesectomy and PVPS?

2. How long after the reversal before you felt like you got your life back? Before you stopped being in pain?

I guess that's kind of 3 😅 any insight you're willing to share is appreciated!

My husband is in month 8 and I just really want him to no longer be in pain. To have more good days than bad. To no longer feel so defeated. It's been the longest recovery...

After 2 years of constant pain after vesectomy.

I (33M) finally took the leap and did my op about 6–7 months ago.

I really relied on this community, especially during the first few days and couple of weeks. Tbh less so for actual knowledge and information, and more for the mental support. I’m not gonna lie, I was a little scared beforehand (it’s my balls afterall) and the first while afterward was a little painful and mentally uncomfortable too. But All those posts with the post-vasectomy candy packages, the memes, the jokes lol really helped me! So Id like to give back to you all here.

Moreover, I feel like the recovery timelines here are probably a little biased toward people who had side effects, complications, or particularly bad experiences, as opposed to the majority of people who apparently (according to the data) don’t have major problems. So I wanted to share mine.

—-
Full disclosure: throughout my prep before the procedure and pretty much my entire recovery, I used ChatGPT for consultation. basically asking every day, “Is this normal?” and “What should I do today?” Which, by the way, is probably not the healthiest thing 😂.

But That one ChatGPT thread ended up containing basically my entire recovery history, so I asked it to summarize the timeline for you guys. Everything below was written by ChatGPT, full disclosure. Nevertheless, it’s my actual experience based on what I reported day by day.
I did add some of my own commentary on it.

Happy to answer any questions you guys have. AMA.

Procedure:
The procedure itself was honestly pretty straightforward. Mine was an open-ended vasectomy under local anesthetic, with a tiny opening that was closed with skin glue afterward. I could feel some pulling/pressure while they were working, but nothing crazy, and I was able to walk out normally afterward.

Day 1
Immediately after the procedure, I mostly rested, wore very supportive/double underwear, and iced regularly.
Pain was surprisingly minor — mostly a dull ache. I was very careful about walking and basically stayed horizontal.

Day 2
Still taking it very easy.
I could start sitting at my desk for around 30–40 minutes at a time, although lying down was still more comfortable.
Very little visible swelling or bruising.

Days 3–5
This was when I started noticing that the incision wasn’t really the issue — the deeper aching was.
I developed a more constant dull ache, generally around 1–2/10 and somewhat more noticeable on the left side. (The bigger guy!)

Doing more chores, sitting upright for longer, or walking more seemed to make me more aware of it.
Ice and supportive underwear helped, although ice stopped feeling as dramatically effective as it did during the first couple days.

(You’d be surprised how many things strain your balls. Even the upper body stuff. Relax!!)

My doctor had ordered a painkiller every eight hours for the first week, but that was not necessary for me. I just took it as needed. I'm pretty sure they prescribed me this way so they get less calls to their clinic because of guys having pain.

Days 6–7
The skin was already looking pretty good, but I could still feel tenderness deeper around the upper testicle/vas area.
The skin glue started coming off naturally. The tiny incision underneath looked fresh/red but closed and dry.
Around the end of the first week, I started masturbating again. I took it gently and didn’t have any significant pain, swelling, bleeding, or other obvious problem afterward.

Week 2
I started living much more normally.
Short walks, errands, work, stairs, etc. were manageable, but walking fast or for longer periods was still one of my biggest triggers.

I also found that:
jeans were noticeably less comfortable than softer pants
supportive underwear made walking easier
lying down usually made the pressure/ache much less noticeable
masturbation/ejaculation generally seemed fine for me
This was also the week I travelled for work. Travel itself was fine, but the extra walking, commuting, stairs, and time upright definitely made me more aware of the dull ache.
I could function normally, but I wasn’t at the “completely forgot I had surgery” stage yet.

Weeks 3–4
At home and during ordinary life, I was becoming close to normal.
I started having more sexual activity during this period. In my experience, ejaculation itself usually didn’t cause any dramatic flare, although there were times when periods of frequent sexual activity coincided with more general aching afterward.
Walking tolerance continued improving, but things like:
fast walking
tight jeans
crossing my legs
sitting awkwardly/hard
lots of standing
could still remind me that things weren’t 100% yet.

Around the 1-month mark
I started testing exercise again.
Normal walking was mostly fine, but gym and yoga exposed the remaining sensitivity much more than normal life did, especially heavy weights, abdominal/core work, deep positions, and movements where I was bracing hard.
The discomfort was generally mild and usually mostly gone again by the following morning.
This was when I really realized that being comfortable in normal daily life wasn’t the same as being completely recovered for exercise.

Weeks 5–6
This was probably the most frustrating part psychologically because I felt almost completely recovered, but could occasionally get another mild 1–2/10 ache.
I could have several days where I barely noticed anything, then exercise or another higher-activity day could make me feel it again.

—-
For me, recovery was definitely not linear:
better → mild flare → better again → another small flare → gradually better overall.

By this point, though, the overall trend was clearly improving.
—-

Around 3 months
I did my post-vasectomy semen analysis.
No sperm were seen. (LFG 💦💦**)**

So despite all of the random aches, activity-related discomfort, sex, travel, etc., the vasectomy itself had worked.

Longer-term update
Several months later, I started noticing a different issue: when I get a strong erection and use my friends a lil too much back to back (lol), I sometimes experience a dull testicular ache that reminds me of the original vasectomy discomfort.

It’s more noticeable than the mild recovery aches were, so I’m planning to get that medically evaluated rather than assuming it’s normal or diagnosing the cause myself.

—-

Biggest things I learned from my own recovery

Relax!! Don’t be a tough guy. Just because you have no pain sitting down, it doesn’t mean you’re ready to go back to your old routine yet.

The tiny skin incision healed much faster than everything underneath it felt healed.

The first few days weren’t necessarily the hardest part for me.

Mild aching could come and go for weeks, especially with activity.

Walking speed, tight clothing, stairs and prolonged standing mattered more than I expected.

Supportive underwear genuinely helped when I was active.

Ice was very useful early on and less obviously useful later. Get extra packs.

Sexual activity was generally easier for me than strenuous exercise. (Thanks god lol)

Gym/core work was one of the last things to feel completely normal.

I never developed the noticeable lump I had been warned I might feel.

Recovery wasn’t linear, but the overall direction kept improving.

——
Obviously this is just my experience, not medical advice. If you have significant swelling, worsening pain, fever, redness, drainage, or anything that feels genuinely wrong, talk to your doctor rather than comparing yourself to somebody else’s timeline.

My husband and I(both 26) are traveling back to where we live after having his surgery on Friday. Will update further as his recovery progresses.
So I am going to start this off with holy crap my husband and I are so far both extremely happy with this experience finally coming to a close. My husband had seen two providers before we got the referral for Dr Hubbard in Minneapolis MN.

Provider 1, treated with antibiotics for possible uti, and just wanted to give him medication he couldn’t take doing his job in the military.

Provider 2, said there was nothing they could do directly but gave the formal diagnosis after hearing everything asking mostly me not my husband.

Right off the bat Dr Hubbard took us seriously, my husband was diagnosed with PVPS in 2024, we had been trying different treatments with the previous providers and he got right to the point with us. Asked us what our goals were to try to help us determine what the best path of treatment was going to be.

Primary goal was to reduce/eliminate the pain, secondary would be for us to have a family. Noting my medical experience as his medical advocate and spouse to help trying to predict the best possible treatment and timeline. Reiterated to us that the pain experienced was not normal and that he was saddened for us that he was left with the chronic pain.

Man, I’m thankful for it too. I had nearly two years of pain episodes documented when we saw him. He asked questions, answered what I originally though could be viewed as unhinged because my husband and I were originally driving 8 hours to see him(which turned to roughly 20 after the military moved us). Explained to us the procedures since a reversal isn’t always the same procedure nor always the best recommendation but was for us. Explained the recovery windows, educated me on what I could do to help recovery. Recommended my husband do pelvic floor PT which did help him with the intensity of some of the pain leading up to surgery.

My husband is active duty military, it’s like jumping through hoops sometimes to get coverage for what most insurance deems elective or cosmetic surgery. Dr Hubbard emphasized that the treatment is recommended for pain, but also keeping it on his radar the fertility returning is a bonus for us. Thus helping Tricare cover surgical treatment.

Answered my questions of what I could do to improve the healing experience, how I can help environmentally, and he didn’t hesitate with giving me resources. My husband is sub 72 hours post reversal as I am writing this, but the experience from the day of surgery is something I feel is reassuring to anyone who may be considering him.

Dr Hubbard spoke with my husband and I before surgery, explained his plan, and every part of the procedure with the possible surgical outcomes. After when he came to speak to me he informed me of which procedure was performed with its recovery plan, that things were promising for one or both goals given his findings. Explained to me what I should be keeping an eye out for… I hadn’t been around a provider with his bedside manner in YEARS.

We see him again as a 3mo follow up, and the hope of my husband being pain free/virtually pain free is there when we previously didn’t have it.

Bonjour,

J’ai 28 ans et cela fait un peu plus de deux ans que je souffre de douleurs testiculaires.

Tout a commencé en juillet 2024. J’étais au travail, principalement au bureau, et cela faisait environ 6 heures que je travaillais lorsqu’une gêne est apparue dans l’aine droite. Je me suis donc levé pour aller faire une intervention au cours de laquelle je devais notamment monter à une échelle. C’est à ce moment-là que je me suis rendu compte que la douleur venait en réalité de mon testicule droit.

J’ai ensuite passé une échographie Doppler qui a révélé la présence d’un kyste de 1,7 cm au niveau de l’épididyme droit. Selon les médecins, il n’y avait rien d’inquiétant et ce kyste ne pouvait pas être à l’origine de mes douleurs.

Quelques jours plus tard, les douleurs sont apparues dans les deux testicules, avec toutefois une douleur beaucoup plus importante à droite.

Environ trois mois plus tard, j’ai subi une intervention au niveau du rein gauche, où j’avais des calculs, afin d’écarter l’hypothèse d’une douleur provenant de ce problème. Malheureusement, l’intervention n’a rien changé.

Depuis, j’ai passé de nombreux examens et essayé différents traitements : infiltration du nerf pudendal, suivi dans un centre de la douleur, plusieurs traitements anti-inflammatoires, antidépresseurs utilisés dans le traitement des douleurs neuropathiques, etc. Rien n’a réellement amélioré la situation.

Il y a environ un mois, j’ai finalement fait retirer le kyste de l’épididyme, même si les médecins ne pensaient pas qu’il était responsable de mes douleurs. Je suis actuellement encore dans la période post-opératoire et j’attends donc que les douleurs liées à l’intervention diminuent. Malheureusement, j’ai peur que mes douleurs initiales soient toujours présentes une fois la récupération terminée.

Je me demande notamment s’il pourrait s’agir d’une épididymite chronique. C’est simplement une hypothèse de ma part, mais certains de mes symptômes semblent y correspondre d’après ce que j’ai pu lire.

Mes douleurs sont présentes en permanence, 24 h/24, mais elles s’intensifient après un effort physique, le port de charges lourdes, une éjaculation ou une position prolongée.

La douleur peut également prendre différentes formes : parfois une sensation de brûlure, parfois des décharges électriques, mais le plus souvent une sensation de lourdeur, comme si les testicules étaient pris dans un étau.

Si quelqu’un a vécu ou vit actuellement quelque chose de similaire, je serais vraiment intéressé d’échanger avec lui, notamment sur les pistes qui ont été explorées, les examens réalisés ou les traitements qui ont pu apporter une amélioration.

Merci d’avance pour vos retours.

Hi Folks,

It's been a while since I last posted here, if memory serves it was probably about 6 months ago with a 6 month post spinal stimulator implant update and the final cost of that surgery.

Currently, I'm lain up on my couch awaiting my latest dose of Oxy to kick in.

Very sore, but, also pretty much a self inflicted situation given that I know my triggers and how best to manage them.

That said, sometimes the triggers can't be avoided and one has to power through and spend a few days in pain deficit.

This week has been one of those situations.

My wife's birthday and a trip to Dublin for a show and a little bit of culture meant that I was up and active.

Just being upright is a trigger, being mobile and active doubly so but it was worth it to see her smiling.

As painful as the aftermath can be?

Sometimes it is important to remember that life and particularly family life, has to find a way to go in.

The next few months are going to be especially rough on her as she is having DIEP flap reconstruction surgery next week.

It has been delayed by a couple of years after she beat breast cancer but the time is right to go ahead now.

I'll be nursing her as best I can and I'll be doing it with a smile on my face and joy in my heart that she is still here!

The spinal implant and it's benefit for me have settled into a place that I can fairly confidently describe as working, beneficial but in no way curative.

Pre implant, my pain was centred on my left testicle, groin and iliac crest but I had fairly severe referred pain into my left flank and kidney and down my left leg and into my foot.

The implant has done a great job of eliminating the referred aspect of my pain.

Barring physical activity on my part, I very rarely have referred pain anymore and I can deal with it quite often via adjusting implant output when I do.

However!

My main pain loci, above and behind left testicle and into iliac crest still persists and is genuinely as bad as ever.

I would describe my pain as being 80% reduced in area.

But?

Not in any bit reduced in actual pain score and the need for activity management and neuropathic and opioid management.

So small win, the implant has made a difference to my QOL in so far as my activity management reaps a bigger reward than without it.

i feel dull ache, starts wearing supporter as doc told to, till now libido is good but felt a discomfort after ejaculating. can i continue going to the gym as i am afraid that it may increase the grade? And does surgery completely heals it or it can return back?

Hello!

I had my vasectomy on April 28 of this year and since then have had pain that hasn’t gone away. The first week was pretty rough and although it got better even now I have a soreness feeling in my balls everyday. Sometimes it’s the left and other times it’s the right. The docter said it could be inflammation but even after steroids and aleve nothing has helped. I just wanted to post on here to see if I’m overthinking and that I still need more time to heal or if this is a chronic issues. I’ve seen stories of guys having to wait a year for the pain to be fully gone. Also, I followed the post op instructions without fail. I had no sex or exercise until 2 months after just to be safe.

Thanks!

Hello,
I got my vasectomy in April of this year and am continuing to have some pain that I am able to manage. My urologist has had me on a steady diet of NSAIDs (first naproxen and now mobic) and I am at the point that if I take medicine and wear compression shorts, I have very little to no pain during my daily life. However, if I try to exercise I have discomfort and I am really hoping to get back to exercise. This past week I began to worry about my continued use of NSAIDs and the long term effects that they can cause, so I stopped taking the mobic. Most of the day I will be fine but by the end, I am sore. Because of this I have started to ice again in the evenings, which helps, and as of today I am icing in the morning, when I am not experiencing discomfort, to see if that has any prophylactic benefits. I am hopeful that this will resolve eventually but am wondering what my next steps should be. Has anyone been in a similar situation? Did you continue to take the NSAIDs? Did you stop and just continue with ice and supportive underwear? Does the NSAID aide in healing or is it just masking pain?

On August 6th, I decided to have my closed-ended vasectomy converted to an open-ended one. The surgeon removed the tied ends on the testicular side and left them open (the Canadian technique). The pain feels different, but it is still present. It’s only been 4 days since the procedure, so I’m trying to stay positive. This time, the swelling is more significant and I developed a huge bruise. Keep your fingers crossed that this will finally resolve my chronic pain.

Sorry I am not sure if this is the right sub but anyways. I had a vasectomy and had no PVPS but regretted the decision. Had a reversal and now I am suffering from post vasectomy reversal pain.

I am feeling this squeezing sensation on my left testicle but it could be the lower end of the vas, its hard to pin point. When I touch it and ejaculate it hurts. I fear this might be cos I ejaculated 2 weeks post-op and had many wet dreams. Is there a soluton or is this permanent.

My doctor said to just wait a little longer and not to worry. The pain is so annoying I don't even care about fertility anymore. If its leakage or blocked could a vasectomy (again) fix it? I can't see myself living the rest of my life with this. What are your experiences?

Edit: also does anyone know if the NHS (UK) would treat this as I got the reversal via a private surgery.

The fun continues…
I’ve posted a few times previously but to summarise - vasectomy Jan 2026 and micro reversal July 2026. All the usual reasons for reversal, sperm congestion, nerve pains (were fading with time tbf), depleted orgasm sensation, low testosterone etc etc.
Now day 30 and past week have been having on off sharp pulling, pinching, twisting pains up to 8/10 particularly from what I believe to be the reconnection site on the left testicle. Can feel some small pea sized lumps along the vas/cord. The pains are quite disabling and are stopping me from engaging in anything physical at all, basically house bound atm.
They shoot up the groin into the hips and sometimes lower back (which is sore anyway from inactivity).
I resumed ejaculation at day 20, have done several times since and while they’ve been pain free, seems logical it’s ignited a flare up.
Still early on here but it’s rather unsettling, anyone noticed anything similar post reversal?

I had my vasectomy done on July 24th, I was extremely cautious about my recovery, first three days I slept in a reclining chair and only got up to pee, I was back to work essentially only walking duties on day 11.

around day 8 I had about 2”x2” deep dark bruising above testicle-reaching the shaft slightly.

Since day 14 I’ve had a large lump appear in the sack above the testicle, about the same size as the testicle,

This lump is connected to the upper (body) portion of the vas deferens as opposed to the testicle end of the vasectomy. I’m walking around on ibuprofen feeling like I was kicked in the balls one hour ago, constantly.

I have been told by the clinic this is a sperm granuloma over the phone, and that it could take a year to go away (this was very disheartening to hear)

but the bruising, size (1.5” round) and location (upper deferens) contradicts most information I can find about granulomas.

Does anyone have any info relating to large granulomas that are not connected to the testicle side of the vas? Treatment, timeline, whether or not it even makes sense?

I’m not saying the clinic can’t be right but if I was actually stuck like this for a year it would potentially ruin my life, I’m looking for anything that could point to a different problem with a actual solution.

Hi all,

I had a vecectony 4 months ago. Healing was about 3 weeks and then no real pain. 4 weeks all bruising and swelling had gone down.

I now find myself getting swelling intermittently depending on physical tasks I take.

Last month I was tiling a large format bathroom, running up and down the stairs for a week and I was in agony and was 1.5 the size, i had to go back to GP and they said all is ok and just to goto tight underwear.

Again, went away a couple of weeks ago, went on a 10 miles walk, swelling and pain returned.

Today, played on a seesaw and swings with my son, and now starting to swell and got an ache again.

Has anyone experienced this before? How long will this last?

I dont mind giving it time I do hope this is temporary!

Cheers

I had my vasectomy about 15 months ago, and after the initial recovery, things didn’t feel back to normal. I did a follow up 5 weeks post procedure to ask about the tenderness and swelling of the epididymis, but was told that it was normal. urologist said it can take a few months for the body to learn to deal with the back pressure and to just take an Advil and try a heat pad if it gets too painful.

That seemed reasonable, and was consistent with a lot of stories I read online. but now fast forward a year and some change, and the epididymis is still like an overinflated balloon. doesn’t prevent me from moving around at all, but I’m constantly aware of it. can’t really have my toddler sit on my lap because if she moves the wrong way, it’s like getting twapped in the nuts. considering a reversal, but feel kind of dumb because i wouldn't rate it above a 2 / 10 on pain from a day to day perspective. anybody else have luck with alternative treatments or just go in for a reversal?

Hi, vasectomy in 2022 (May) various problems in first 18 months, swollen epididymus , nerve pain in right side , mainly pain was on the left with odd periods 1 week to 3 months of right sided pain. Pain lessened on the left and disappeared on the right after about 18 months. Due to ongoing discomfort I did however book a reversal but cancelled it after I herniated a disc in my neck and put me into severe pain for about 4 months. Didn’t seem the right thing to do then and the ball pain was then more like ball discomfort. Fast forward to this year and the left still the same , very low level discomfort and can flare up but right was nothing and then out of the blue I started getting sciatica like pain in my right into my stomach again. Now this normally goes away on its own. But this time it’s stayed for a couple, of weeks although not as bad as two week ago. I am quite sexually active at the moment as recently remarried but wondered if anyone had felt the right side sciatica type pain. It almost feels like having a stitch or a tingle down the leg. Doesn’t feel like congestion. Think I should take a few weeks off any sexual activity …