Does It Hurt to Have a Vasectomy

GoodRx Health

For most men, a vasectomy is a safe and effective form of birth control with a straightforward recovery. More than half a million vasectomies are performed in the U.S. each year.

A vasectomy is a quick surgical procedure. It involves cutting or blocking the small tubes that carry sperm from the testicles to the urethra. This prevents the sperm from reaching the semen that is ejaculated during sex.

Zero sperm means zero chance of pregnancy. A cautionary note, though: There may still be sperm in the semen for some time following the vasectomy. It's important to continue using other forms of birth control until a semen analysis confirms zero sperm.

Vasectomies are performed in a healthcare professional's office or an outpatient surgery center. An anesthesia is used to numb the scrotum before the procedure.

Since they're numbed, most men getting a vasectomy feel little discomfort - only a slight tugging sensation. Here, three men describe what it feels like to have a vasectomy and what to expect.

Painless vasectomy, painful recovery

Jonathan Becerra remembers hearing horror stories about vasectomies.

"It just really put a bad taste in my mouth as far as actually going through the vasectomy," says Jonathan, 41, of Tolleson, Arizona. He first considered getting a vasectomy in 2020 but decided against it at the time.

"Fast-forward to the future, we had a sixth kid," he says. "That's when my wife and I decided it's time that we should probably go through with the vasectomy."

Jonathan had a vasectomy in December 2023.

"The procedure probably lasted only about 10 to 12 minutes," Jonathan says. "It was very quick and painless. I didn't feel anything."

The first two days of recovery were typical. Jonathan rested at home and used bags of frozen peas to reduce the swelling in his scrotum. But on Day 3 of recovery, he started to feel a lot of pain.

"The third through the eighth days [of recovery] were some of the most excruciating pain I've ever had in my life. It was absolutely miserable," he says. "I couldn't really move a whole lot."

For a while during recovery, "I had the most intense pain," Jonathan says. "It felt like someone was literally stabbing my testicles."

He continued to experience pain from Days 8 to 14, although it gradually lessened.

"I struggled moving around. I was walking like a cowboy that just got off a horse for a long period of time. That lasted probably for about a month," he says.

Jonathan also experienced unexpected pain in the perineum area - between the scrotum and the anus - about a month after the procedure. He took ibuprofen pain reliever and Epsom salt baths for a week, which helped.

"The pain eventually did subside," he says. "Right around the 2-month marker is when things really turned around. I haven't had any pain since 2 months and 1 week."

Typical recovery from a vasectomy is 1 to 2 weeks. Despite the longer-than-average recovery, Jonathan says he is glad he went through with the procedure - although he did feel unexpectedly nostalgic when he got the all-clear from his semen analysis.

"I did have a moment of sadness, because it's the closing of a chapter. I know that I will not be able to have another biological child," he says. "I was emotional."

A straightforward success, and back to work the second day

Justin Willis, a 37-year-old father of four who runs a dairy farm in Virginia, had a vasectomy in May 2024.

"We were on the fence, [thinking] 'Maybe one more,'" says Justin, whose youngest is a toddler. "Everyone says that to themselves, 'Maybe just one more.' But we're both really at our end. Our cup is full."

He went in for a preoperative consultation and an appointment with a urologist, and then he scheduled his procedure.

He says the needles being inserted for local anesthesia were the most painful part.

"I didn't feel the work at all," he says.

He hired someone to help milk his farm's cows for the first day of his recovery. But he was back at work by the second day.

"I don't have anybody to fill in for me that I don't have to pay out of my own pocket," he says. "I was doing it all, just kind of slower."

Healthcare professionals recommend resting at least 24 hours after a vasectomy, resuming light daily activity after a few days and waiting a week or two for more strenuous activities.

"The third and fourth day are the worst, as far as pain goes," Justin says. "But as long as you're responding to the pain and not ignoring it, the limitations are obvious. It if hurts, slow down."

He was able to return to exercising at the gym about a week later, with no pain or side effects.

"I'm right where I was before. I'm just fine physically," he says. "It was a success."

Seeking a reversal after vasectomy complications

Most men's vasectomies are similar to Justin's experience: straightforward, with no side effects or lingering pain. Complications are rare, but there are risks of side effects, including infection, inflammation, or long-term pain.

Ryan Zinzow, a 27-year-old father of six from Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, had a difficult experience from the beginning. During the vasectomy procedure in 2022, the surgeon started by cauterizing the right side with no problems.

"But when he started cauterizing the left vas [deferens], I felt everything," Ryan says. "My body went into shock from the pain. It was just excruciating pain. I started sweating. I thought I was going to pass out."

He healed from the surgery within a few weeks, but he continues to experience pain.

"Every other month or so, I'll have these pains of various levels," he says. "Sometimes, it's manageable with ibuprofen. Other times I can barely walk."

An estimated 1% to 2% of men experience lasting pain after a vasectomy. Ryan says his doctors told him that some pain up to a year after the procedure can be normal. Two years later, he's had enough.

"I'm tired of it. I don't like the pain," he says.

He is planning to get a vasectomy reversal surgery to reconnect the vas deferens. "My insurance is actually going to cover my vasectomy reversal, which is a blessing," he says.

Reversals are not usually covered by insurance policies. But in Ryan's case, it is considered medically necessary because of the complications he faces.

The entire experience makes him wish he had not had a vasectomy in the first place.

"I would not recommend it at all, but I'm happy for the people that have no issues," he says. "For me, anyway, I would say don't go through with it."

What does the doctor say?

Patricia Pinto-Garcia, MD, MPH

Senior Medical Editor

Vasectomies are a permanent and effective form of birth control. A vasectomy is a safe and effective surgery. And unlike some other types of surgery, including tubal ligations, vasectomies can be done with local anesthesia. That means you can avoid risks from general anesthesia and have a quicker recovery. The procedure is quick and not very invasive, which helps shorten recovery time.

As these stories show, it's normal to experience pain that starts a few days after a vasectomy and gradually gets better over 10 days. This pain pattern is because of the body's inflammatory response, which is a natural part of healing after any surgery. Most people are able to manage this discomfort with rest, cold therapy (like ice or a cold compress), and over-the-counter pain medications. But recovery times can vary from person to person depending on how your body heals. Recovery can also take longer if you experienced complications during or after your procedure.

Stay in touch with your urology care team after your vasectomy, especially if you're experiencing significant discomfort or other symptoms. They'll be able to advise you on the best pain-management options. They can also follow up with you to make sure you aren't developing any complications after your vasectomy.

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