I have severe pain in my left testicle one week after vasectomy. Is this an infection, hematoma or surgical complication?

On day 6 after my procedure, I developed discomfort in my left testicle and groin area, which progressed to significant pain on days 7 and 8. On day 7, a call to my doctor resulted in a prescription of Cephalexin. I have no fever or other symptoms other than pain. My scrotum is bruised but it has improved. I’ve noticed no weeping out of the suture sites. After 36 hours of rest and 24 of antibiotics, pain hasn’t improved. Is this infection or hematoma, or surgical complication?

Answers from doctors (2)


More About Doctor Tulsa Vasectomy Clinic

Published on Jul 06, 2022

Given your circumstances it is very hard to draw any conclusions about what is causing this pain. For pain to occur 7 or 8 days after a vasectomy if you have restricted your activity and recline for the first 48 to 72 hours is not usual. Your doctor did write by trying a trial of antibiotics. You should get a's scrotal support and elevate your scrotum and perhaps reapply ice intermittently and see if that helps as well

Answered by Tulsa Vasectomy Clinic (View Profile)

Given your circumstances it is very hard to draw any conclusions about what is causing this pain. For pain to occur 7 or 8 days after a vasectomy if you have restricted your activity and recline for the first 48 to 72 hours is not usual. Your doctor did write by trying a trial of antibiotics. You should get a's scrotal support and elevate your scrotum and perhaps reapply ice intermittently and see if that helps as well

Published on Jul 11, 2012


More About Doctor John C. McHugh, MD

Published on Dec 20, 2018

Although the three things you mentioned are possibilities, the fact that it has been a week, there is no visible swelling and it did not appreciably change with the antibiotic, the most probable situation is just pain. After a vasectomy, men often feel pain, and that pain feels like swelling. Most times, however, there is no swelling, per se.

Pain can be the healing process and the change in your natural flow of sperm. That flow is abruptly changed with the procedure. It is my feeling that with "the tincture of time" you will find that as the bruising goes away so too will the pain.

Consider taking Aleve twice a day for one week. Chances are things will be alright.

Answered by John C. McHugh, MD (View Profile)

Although the three things you mentioned are possibilities, the fact that it has been a week, there is no visible swelling and it did not appreciably change with the antibiotic, the most probable situation is just pain. After a vasectomy, men often feel pain, and that pain feels like swelling. Most times, however, there is no swelling, per se.

Pain can be the healing process and the change in your natural flow of sperm. That flow is abruptly changed with the procedure. It is my feeling that with "the tincture of time" you will find that as the bruising goes away so too will the pain.

Consider taking Aleve twice a day for one week. Chances are things will be alright.

Published on Jul 11, 2012


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