This is a common finding following a vasectomy. It can be nothing more than the normal healing process that would occur with any procedure as the body attempts to heal the trauma of the transected vas deferens.

A sperm granuloma again is a natural body response to the leakage of sperm that may have occurred at the vasectomy site.  These areas are sometimes tender to the touch or in certain sitting positions. Uncommonly if the pain is significant enough, a course of antibiotics or anti-inflammatories are necessary. Rarely the discomfort is often enough and bad enough that a patient will request that the can be removed surgically.

I did a vasectomy on a friend of mine who developed a sperm granuloma and it was painful to him about every six months or two years and responded to antibiotics, although there is no real scientific reason for this. The after a few years, it stopped bothering him.  He would call and say, “John, my sperm “granola” is back.” J.M.

ANSWERS FROM DOCTORS (3)

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2 months ago by Steven K. Sterzer, MD

Yes, you may have had a sperm leak early on post-vasectomy that the ever magnificent body healing process took care of. The pea-sized lump is probably what is called a granuloma. This is of no clinical significance, unless you wish to get a reversal of the vasectomy. In that case, the reversal success rate will be higher than if this did not occur. Best wishes!

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2 months ago by Mark J. Saslawsky, MD – Memphis Office

It’s typical for the vas ends to “approximate”, but they rarely reconnect. The knot could be scar tissue or a cyst from back pressure.

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2 months ago by Randy Brett Ackerman, MD

If the semen analysis shows no sperm, then you should not be able to father a child. Small pea-sized lumps following a vasectomy can happen, but there is no indication from them that the procedure has failed.