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VoxClarus t1_j8ozcxt wrote

There are (rare) chronic pain complications involved with vasectomies, but when looking into this as a layman it's not clear at all how much of a concern this should be to men considering the surgery. Cleveland and Mayo Clinic present it as kind of a medical mystery and both suggest it's difficult to treat. And yet they both also note that it's *extremely* unlikely to develop.

I'm wondering about your general sense of the issue: Is it something you see being seriously studied? Would it cause you to hesitate in receiving or recommending the procedure or is it more of a "cost of doing business" kind of outcome?

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ramasamymd OP t1_j8p1a0f wrote

Post-vasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS) is a possible complication of a vasectomy that involves chronic pain in one or both testicles that persists for three or more months after the procedure. PVPS is a rare complication, and the risk of developing PVPS after a vasectomy is low. The pain can range from a rare, dull ache to sharp, constant pain that can interfere with daily life. Possible treatments for PVPS include medication, a vasectomy reversal, or surgery to remove the epididymis or the spermatic cord, although these options may not always be effective

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28725617/

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ramasamymd OP t1_j8p1rtk wrote

post-vasectomy pain syndrome (PVPS) is a possible complication of a vasectomy that involves chronic pain in one or both testicles that persists for three or more months after the procedure. PVPS is a rare complication, and the risk of developing PVPS after a vasectomy is low. The pain can range from a rare, dull ache to sharp, constant pain that can interfere with daily life. Possible treatments for PVPS include medication, a vasectomy reversal, or surgery to remove the epididymis or the spermatic cord, although these options may not always be effective.

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28725617/

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CattleAndLoveplay t1_j96pzr5 wrote

This should be higher up and have better visibility. A relative of mine had the procedure and developed severe chronic pain. His pain was minimized and hand-waved by doctors and relatives, and it was just generally shitty to watch him go through that. There are always risks and complications when it comes to surgery, I’m not sure I’d be willing to take a 1 in 1000 or greater chance of developing a complication like that instead of using other contraceptive methods in conjunction with birth control if my partner can be on it.

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VoxClarus t1_j9lka6c wrote

This is the exact debate I'm having. I want to take the lead on this because I know I never want children and don't want to ask future partners to bear the burden of it, but some of the chronic pain stories are debilitating.

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