The risk of having serious side effects after a vasectomy is very low. However, some complications may arise. These may include
– infection at the site of the incision. This only happens with incision vasectomies – it is very rare in no-scalpel procedures. It is, however, rare for an infection to occur inside the scrotum.
– severe long-term (may go on for months or years) pain in the scrotum or testicles. A large study involving thousands of men indicated that only 1% of those who have had a vasectomy experience this pain. A smaller study of 200 men showed that 6% experienced this pain. A control group of men who have never had a vasectomy indicated that 2% experienced similar pain.
The cause of this pain is not known, but it is suspected that it may happen when there is pressure caused by the leakage of sperm from improperly sealed tubes or if nerve damage has occurred.
Treatment varies and includes elevation of the scrotum, painkillers, injection of anesthesia to the spermatic cord to numb the nerve going to the testicles, and surgery to either remove the infected area or reverse the vasectomy.
– bleeding under the skin (hematoma) that may cause swelling or bruising. This a rare complication, but if this happens, immediately contact your health-care provider for treatment.
– reaction to anesthesia.
– a very rare risk that your tubes may reconnect themselves – which could lead to a pregnancy (11).
What are the disadvantages of having a vasectomy?
– Vasectomy reversal, though possible, is usually difficult and expensive and does not guarantee a return to fertility. Before you get a vasectomy, you need to be 100% sure you do not want to have biological children.
– It takes up to three months to work, and if you want to prevent a pregnancy, you must use backup contraception during the waiting period.
– It doesn’t protect you from HIV and STIs.
What factors can increase the risk of vasectomy complications?
– Previous surgery in the same area.
– Infection. Do not use this method if you have a current infection in your scrotum, penis, or prostate (for example, a sexually transmitted infection).
– Smoking.
– Bleeding disorders.
