During pre-surgery examination, the urologist could not find my right vas deferens. What are my options?
The urologist gave me 2 choices: perform a unilateral vasectomy or perform an exploration of the scrotum under general anesthesia. I am at a loss. I am considering the first option but I am worried the vas deferens was present but not detected and the unilateral vasectomy will not render me sterile. Can you give me an estimate of the likelihood I am really missing one vas deferens if it was not detected by palpation? On a more general note, what are my options when it comes to vasectomy?
Answers from doctors (2)
Although uncommon, a vas is not present if there is no kidney on that side, so a renal ultrasound will rule that out. Many times a vas that can't be felt in the office, with its associated anxiety present in the patient, but can be felt with general anesthesia with everything relaxed. You could see if another urologist can find it on a different day, or let the original examine again. I have checked behind another partner and found one easily, we call that "getting another set of eyes." If this still shows only one, I'd prefer the general anesthesia and be done with it, otherwise, you may have one done and, if later, see sperm and have to deal with it then.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
If you are missing a vas on one side, you may be missing the kidney on that side as well. If you are missing the kidney (which is quickly determined by ultrasound), that is important information in and of itself but also provides more confidence that the vas is not there and just the one-sided vasectomy would be fine.
Published on Jul 11, 2012
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