Sperm Granuloma -
is a pea-sized swelling which results from leakage of spermatic fluid. This will
occur in most patients, rarely produces any symptoms and is of no concern. In
rare cases this may cause tenderness.
Post Vasectomy Pain Syndrome - is a chronic ache
in the testicles which occurs in about 1 in 1,000 cases. It occurs less commonly
with the open-ended technique than with closing the lower end of the vas. Although
sometimes controlled with intermittent or long term use of anti-inflammatory medication,
further surgery may be required in very rare cases. Further surgery is usually,
but not always successful in relieving the pain.
Persistence of Sperm - or sperm remaining in the ejaculate even after the vasectomy. Some sperm is
usually present in the fluid for 3 or 4 months. In about .2% of cases sperm can
continue to be present for one of the following reasons:
- There is an unrecognized third vas
- The cut ends of one vas grow back together
- Two segments of vas are inadvertently removed from one
vas rather than one segment from each side.
Unfortunately, semen samples that shows no sperm after
3 and 4 months does not guarantee that one passage will not grow back together
at a later time. The risk of this, however, is extremely remote (less than .1%). |
