Vasectomy may have caused my low T making me a eunuch

[lister02 (imported)]

I had a vasectomy about 17 years ago. Recently my doctor checked my T level and both times it was 203 and 205. Other checks were done to make sure and it appears my testicles are failing. According to some doctors this is much more common then the medical and especially planned parenthood community will admit.

My level could go even lower and I will get to join the eunuch community after all

I was wondering if this has happened to you or anyone you know ?

[kristoff]

I had a vasectomy about 17 years ago. Recently my doctor checked my T level and both times it was 203 and 205. Other checks were done to make sure and it appears my testicles are failing. According to some doctors this is much more common then the medical and especially planned parenthood community will admit.

I was wondering if this has happened to

someone you know too?

Unless you doctor committed some grievous error, your vasectomy had nothing to do with your lower T levels. For some, low levels are normal. And they tend to decline as we age, as well.

[bobbie (imported)]

You have the vasectomy some 17 years ago. If you were 30 when done. It would make you 47. A guy will loose his testosterone levels as he ages. I would say that you are just experiencing the effects of aging. Most guys do not have the testosterone levels checked. So most do not know that theirs is dropping over time. You can ask your doctor for some testosterone shots or patches.

[lister02 (imported)]

For the non believers here is a link discussing it

http://www.gynecomastia.org/smf/index.php?topic=1680.0

[kristoff]

For the non believers here is a link discussing it

http://www.gynecomastia.org/smf/index.php?topic=1680.0

Quote of a quote. Not credible, particularly without attribution. While problems can occur as a result of vasectomy, the odds of it causing low T is really pretty remote. It would be more believable with a verifiable source of attribution and some research to back it up.

http://ezinearticles.com/?The-Truth-abo ... &id=161734

[raymar2020 (imported)]

I'll chime in on this situation. I have two friends who had vasectomies, and had issues with them.

In both cases after a year or so, they started into testicular atrophy. This is a possible side effect of vasectomy, and most doctors warn that it is possible. In this situation, the testicles, now that they are not releasing sperm, stop making it, and over time begin to shrink, as the tissues are sort of ignored by the body. It happens for some guys and not at all for others, another example of the variations that occur from person to person.

My one friend began to get pain after a couple years, and when it worsened to the point that it was affecting his general health, he had a bi-lateral orchiectomy. At some point in that journey his T level did drop, but never to what could be called castrate levels.

The other has seen continued atrophy, and now some 10 years after his vasectomy his testicles have shrunk to about 1/3 the size they were. He has little pain, and is maintaining a T level within the normal range for a man his age.

I would not dismiss the thought that vasectomy can cause a lowering of the T level, but only in cases involving testicle atrophy.

Vasectomy can also lead to the need to remove the testicle due to inflammation of the severed vas, or chronic pain from the testicle after the procedure. The Planned Parenthood folks do not say too much about the possible complications, but as an example, my urologist's practice which includes over 40 urologists, does not do vasectomies at all, under any circumstances.

To the original poster, check with a good urologist, analyze what is really going on, and if you desire , seek out HRT to remedy the situation.

Raymar

[HairyHarry (imported)]

I had a vasectomy 22 years ago, and years afterwards, I heard that there were accounts of T reduction in about 50% of men. I asked my Dr, she said she wasn't aware of any problems, but did a T test on me, which showed that I was well within the expected range. I suppose the if the vas end attached to the testicle was cauterised/tied-off, it could cause problems, but I don't know if that is standard practice, or which method was used on me.

[coinflipper_21 (imported)]

One of the leading causes of low T is a prolactin producing tumor. Prolactinomas were, until quite recently, considered rare and exclusively a woman's problem. They are not rare, your chance of getting one during your lifetime is 22%, man or woman. They are very slow growing, taking years to develop, but in women cause immediately recognizable symptoms, such as their milk coming in when they are not pregnant and breast pain, so they are diagnosed fairly easily by a gynecologist. In a man the symptoms are those of increasingly low T, since the testosterone cycle is controlled by prolactin produced in the pituitary, and since they usually show up later in life, the doctors just assume it is because of aging. Most doctors do not think to check the prolactin level of a man with low T. Prolactin is a "woman's hormone".

If your testosterone level is declining insist that your doctor test your prolactin level to rule out a prolactionoma. I know this because I have one. When I was diagnosed, after some help from my own Internet research, my prolactin level was five times that of a lactating woman. In a man it is normally barely detectable. After I was diagnosed, my doctor re-tested all his patients with similar symptoms and found 13 more in his practice alone.

[clysmaniac (imported)]

One of the leading causes of low T is a prolactin producing tumor. Most doctors do not think to check the prolactin level of a man with low T. Prolactin is a "woman's hormone".

I am only a sample of one one patient and one urologist. I was referred to him after my PCP discovered my testes were shrunken and hard and had an unfavorable ultrasound. My urologist ordered three things after my initial visit: another ultrasound plus testosterone and prolactin tests. My prolactin was acceptable- I don't remember the value now because it wasn't an issue. While I can't say that all other doctors would order a prolactin test in a similar situation, I'd have a hard time believing it is commonly ignored.

I also had a vasectomy maybe 18 years before that and had no issues with it at all. My low T was cause by taking antiandrogens and then alcohol injections, not something physical.

[stevesd (imported)]

I had a vasectomy and it did not specifically cause the balls to shrink, what happned is that the doctor nicked one of the blood supplies on both sides when getting to the VAS. Later it did cause the balls to shrink in size...I had the standard vas two metal clips clamped on both ends of the vas, and a small segment taken out. I can feel the cliped ends of the vas proud to do my part not making anymore babies, and now looking to get castrated for personal reasons. More men should stand up to the VAS Cut...I invision someday Vasectomy and Castration Clinics where guys lined up drop their boxers and get done! I tell guys get the snip...be a real Man!!!

Marine Sgt.

SF CA//