Never again. We both regret it. Mine went horribly wrong and I'm still in a mess after over a year !
There is a 10% risk of PVP - no-one tells you this.
As an operation, it should be painless, smelly though becuase of the burning that is done. The first half of my operation was fine, no pain. Second was exreamly painful - I even warned the Doctor could feel it before he started zapping, but he carried on. Then he severed a blood vessel.
Lots of pain, lots of swelling, even A&E visit it was that bad. Ended up off work 5 weeks. Operating GP denied any occurance of PVP. Only when I was referred to Urology did them mention the high number of cases.
Still in pain months after the surgery. Sex life was almost non-existant, maybe once every 6-8 weeks.
Referred for an epididymectomy on the 'damaged side'. That's quite a nasty surgery where the whole testicle is pulled out of a large incision in the scrotum, the epididimis removed, and then it's stitched back in place to the scrotum along the incision so it can't move. The surgeon also tidied up the mess the GP made.
Second surgery was much less painful afterwards than the vasectomy.
Some of my pain has gone, mainly the mess the GP made. I still wake in pain every day in both sides, which means I have to get up. This fades within an hour. Still get low level aches and pains, and it's still causing me discomfort at night, so I end up sleeping on the setee a number of nights a week.
Sex life is still rubbish. Fortunately my wife is very understanding, but it's certainly not what either of us expected. We have no worries about pregnancy as I was clear on the first test - no need to rush a sample in, this was dropped off at the surgery, then sent away to the local hospital for tests. Came back clear. Sample done after 16 weeks.
Down sides, I'm getting quite exhausted in the evenings, and I have a low libido, so not so sure if my testosterone levels are up the shoot following the second surgery as I have a lot of scar tissue now on the operated on testicle.
I won't be having the other one done.
There is basically nothing that can be done now other than taking medication, which I won't take. No referral to Urology for a few months.
Plus side, is the damage the GP did has been sorted out. Just left with PVP now.
90% do go without a fuss, but for that 10% you take a risk of seriously damaging your sex life, and you'll be lumbered with a miserable partner. It's a gamble, and it doesn't matter how fit or healthy you are, it has no bearing on who gets it.
I've spoken to quite a few men about it, and only 1 chap mentioned that his doctor was honest about the risks, so he and his wife decided not to do it.
I'll also not recommend that the woman is steralised either, as the surgery is more invasive. If you don't want hormonal contraception (a reason I decided to go ahead) then stick with condoms.
10% risk of PVP is way too high. Surgically it's simple, but zero research goes into PVP, and if you get it, then you really are up the creek without a paddle. There is very little that can be done, and an epididimectomy only has a 50% success, but they will only operate on one at a time dut to the high risk of losing it due to the surgery. Mine is hanging on in there, but its still painful and swollen.
Sorry to put a downer on it, but please way up the risks. If it goes well, as in 90% of cases, your partner should be fine after a few days. If it goes on for more than a week, then start worrying.