Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome
Post-Vasectomy Pain Syndrome refers to a prolonged chronic pain situation, which affects around five to thirty three percent of vasectomized men. This particular pain syndrome is said to be caused due to a combination of chronic inflammation, testicular backpressure, fibrosis, nerve entrapment, sperm granulomas as well as electrical activity changes of the vas deferens. As it is, pain in epididymides is a major sign, Post Vasectomy Pain Syndrome has also been known as congestive epididymitis. The pain may be present in a number of ways, such as orchialgia, i.e. chronic testicular pain, pain at the time of intercourse, physical exertion or ejaculation, or pain as a result of full or tender epididymies.
There is also a marked boost to pressure in the vas in the testicular side and following vasectomy. As it is, the epididymides, in case of vasectomized men have quite often been found to be swollen, as well as distended from the backpressure effects. Now, the efferent ducts, as well as the seminiferous tubules in the testes have also been believed to be impacted due to backpressure, resulting in an increase in the area, as well as thickness. The backpressure caused due to blocking of the vas deferens would result in what is known as an epididymal blowout in case of over half of the vasectomy patients.
It is said that as a part of the response of the body towards the injury of the vasectomy, the body makes hard scar-like tissues. Clamping of the vas deferens might produce muscle disruption as well as fibrosis. Now, as the diameter in the vas lumen has been less than the thickness in the wall, the broad muscle layers may easily become disrupted, which leads to sperm extravasation and accumulation. Cysts are often formed from the fluid, which spreads in between the muscle layers.
The sperm leak from vas deferens and the epididymides in case of vasectomized men, resulting in the formation of lesions in scrotum, also known as sperm granulomas. As it is, some sperm granulomas might be painful as well. However, it is interesting to note that, sperm granulomas may actually reduce the chances of Post Vasectomy Pain Syndrome by serving up as a pressure valve.
Nerves may become entrapped in the fibrous tissues caused due to vasectomy. This pain gets often heightened at the time of intercourse, as well as ejaculation as with arousal or ejaculation, the muscles tend to elevate the testis. Large number of nerves, which run parallel to vas are easily damaged or cut during vasectomy.