Question:
I had a vasectomy 10 years ago that resulted in severe retardation of my
erectile function and some bend of the penis to the side. It didn't
completely take away my abiliity to have an erection, but it results in my
mind always being way ahead of my penis, arousal wise. It takes a lot of
work and time to get erect and even then it isn't very hard and I can lose
it easily. I still can reach orgasm and ejaculate, but often without an
erection. This puts a real damper on my sex life!
The urologist who did the vas doesn't want to help me. He claims it is
either in my head or the result of diabeties or nerve damage. It happened
immediately after the vas surgery. Before that I had lots of spontanious
erections every day and no trouble keeping them up. I welcomed the surgery
and see no reason to think that I have a mental block about this. Urologists
I have spoken to have been hostile and my own GP managed to toss in the
comment "It's too late to sue now." when I never had that in mind. I'd just
like professional help to try to correct this.
The way my penis works now seems like there is a blockage near the base. I
get a very hard penis base in a normal timeframe, but right about skin
level, the erection abruptly stops. It feels like a knot there, and can be
uncomfortable to mildly painful. Gradually the rest of the shaft gets
harder, but seldom fully. Viagra helps sometimes but not always. In fact
when viagra does work it gives me the only full erections I have had in 10
years. I just started using viagra 6 months ago.
I am seperated and getting divorced. I have had sex with a few women since
seperation. They have been very kind, understanding and patient. (Even so,
my condition has contributed to making a very good relationship go cold a
few months ago.) I relate this here to point out that I have had time to
feel good about myself sexually, so I feel even more reason to discount the
"psychological effect" explaination.
Another point I'd like to bring up was the manner that the surgery was
performed. The doctor was in a hurry for some reason. He commented that I
hadn't shaved properly and I offered to shave again. He said "forget it,
it'll be ok like this" and proceded. I don't know if this could contribute
to a theory of what could have caused my condition or not.
I'm wondering if scar tissue or the severed vas interfering with something,
or "congestion" (as the doctors refer to the enlargement of my testicles)
could impair blood flow. Also, I had alot of pain the first 3 days after the
surgery, which I hadn't expected either. Could the pain have caused a
skeletal misadjustment in the L/S region and cause a pinched nerve of sorts?
I do have a weakness in my lower back in this area due to a disk herniation
from 17 years ago which still occationally gives me discomfort.
Sorry if I seem neurotic about this, but I'm just groping for possibilities.
Any help and/or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
I suggested to one urologist that he open the scrotum and do an visual
exploratory surgury. His response was surprisingly rude. (declining)
Does anyone have any advice for where I might get some real help with this?
I have been taking Vitamin E and MSM with Vitamin C, which may have helped
somewhat, but I think I either have a physical blockage or a nerve issue. Is
there a clinic that would be able to really analyse the situation and
correct it? Going through a divorce, I have the opportunity to have a sex
life again for the first time in many years, but this is not helping to say
the least.
Answer:
I will try to write more later. One thing you might do now, though, is
check out the e.d. link at our website (address below): Go to the
"useful links" section, then to the section on "Other Men's Health
sites." (I will do this myself to try to formulate an answer to your
questions when I have time.) There are some websites devoted to e.d.,
too. You could search for them at dejanews.com just by typing in either
"erectile dysfuncition" or "impotence."
One bit of advice when you see another doctor: Perhaps it would be best
not to offer him/her your own read on vasectomy as the cause of the e.d.
It's unfair, but this might incline them to jump to the psychological
explanation. There are definitely tests that can be done to detect
physical blockages and other circulatory problems that might impede
erection, wehther these were caused by a vasectomy or some other factor,
and it seems to me they should do those tests. If you do have a
diagnosis of diabetes, that can definitely play a role. Maybe even your
back injury could be a factor. But I think there are almost always ways
to make erections better. And you should keep pushing for remedies. (I
don't know how to interpret your on again, off again experience with
viagra, but I would guess it must mean something!)
It's important to keep in mind that doctors are a lot like people: Some
of them are jerks! But there good ones, too. Clearly, you need to shop
around some more. And I would start by looking into the impotence
website and dropping in on some specialized websites.
Good luck. And I want to congratulate you for trying to make things
better, as you begin your new life as a single. Life is too short--and
sex too good--to not look into improving things!
Don't expect much support from the Docs that do the procedure, they
don't want to take responsibility for the harm they cause. Just ask
those Urologists about their vasectomy and don't be surprised that
urologists don't practice Vasectomy, they just perform it.
The Anti-Sperm Immune Response due to Vasectomy can cause lower
testosterone, increased risk of auto-immune diseases (such as
diabetes), and other health risks.
Most long term effects take effect after 5 years, so Docs have a
tendancy to cite 5 year studies if they cite at all. Some men seem to
have an immediate strong auto-immune response.
Don't listen to the 'in your mind' crap. The problem is the medical
establishment's failure to back up this procedure with proper studies.
(If you don't want to know the answer don't ask the question.)
