Post-Vasectomy Pain RCT

September 11, 2026 updated by: Aaron Brant, Columbia University

A Randomized Controlled Trial of Post-vasectomy Pain Management

This is a prospective four-armed unblinded randomized controlled trial to assess four different potential post-operative treatment options for men who undergo a vasectomy. The aims of this study are:

  • To determine whether the addition of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to acetaminophen results in improved pain after vasectomy;
  • To determine whether the addition of opioid pain medication to acetaminophen and/or NSAIDs results in improved pain after vasectomy;
  • To determine whether the use of NSAIDs for post-operative pain management increases risk of hematoma after vasectomy.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

The purpose of this study is to evaluate and compare commonly used post-vasectomy pain regimens. Eligible participants will be adult male patients who elect to undergo vasectomy with a urologist at Columbia University Medical Center with no history of kidney or liver disease, chronic pain conditions, or drug abuse. Prospectively enrolled participants will be randomized to one of four study arms, which will differ by post-operative pain regimens as follows:

  • Arm 1: 975 mg acetaminophen every 6 hours for the first 48 hours to a maximum of 7 days;
  • Arm 2: 975 mg acetaminophen and 600 mg ibuprofen every 6 hours for the first 48 hours to a maximum of 7 days;
  • Arm 3: 975 mg acetaminophen every 6 hours for the first 48 hours to a maximum of 7 days with a prescription for 6 tablets of 5 mg oxycodone every 6 hours as needed;
  • Arm 4: 975 mg acetaminophen and 600 mg ibuprofen every 6 hours for the first 48 hours to a maximum of 7 days with a prescription for 6 tablets of 5 mg oxycodone every 6 hours as needed.

Other than the differing pain regimens, all treatment and pre- and post-operative counselling will be standard of care at the discretion of the treating urologists. Participants will be contacted at 1 day and 7 days post-operatively to complete Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) questionnaires, assess how many tablets of oxycodone they have taken, and assess whether they would be comfortable returning to work. At post-operative visits, their treating urologist will assess them for the presence of hematoma. Comparisons will be made between study arms to assess for differences.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
200

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • New York
      • New York, New York, United States, 10032
        • Recruiting
        • Columbia University Medical Center/ New York Presbyterian Hospital
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Aaron M Brant, MD
      • White Plains, New York, United States, 10604

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

- Consent for vasectomy

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of kidney or liver disease
  • History of chronic pain condition
  • History of drug abuse

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Acetaminophen only
Participants are encouraged to take only acetaminophen 975 mg every 6 hours for the first 48 hours to a maximum of 7 days after surgery.
Drug: Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is a widely used, over-the-counter medication that relieves mild to moderate pain and reduces fever. Unlike NSAIDs like ibuprofen, it does not treat inflammation or swelling.
Other Names:
  • paracetamol
  • APAP
Experimental: Acetaminophen + ibuprofen
Participants are encouraged to take acetaminophen 975 mg and ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours for the first 48 hours to a maximum 7 days after surgery.
Drug: Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is a widely used, over-the-counter medication that relieves mild to moderate pain and reduces fever. Unlike NSAIDs like ibuprofen, it does not treat inflammation or swelling.
Other Names:
  • paracetamol
  • APAP
Drug: ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve mild to moderate pain, reduce fever, and decrease inflammation.
Other Names:
  • Motrin
Experimental: Acetaminophen + oxycodone
Participants are encouraged to take acetaminophen 975 mg every 6 hours for the first 48 hours to a maximum of 7 days after surgery, and a prescription for 6 tablets of oxycodone 5 mg will be prescribed to take every 6 hours as needed for pain.
Drug: Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is a widely used, over-the-counter medication that relieves mild to moderate pain and reduces fever. Unlike NSAIDs like ibuprofen, it does not treat inflammation or swelling.
Other Names:
  • paracetamol
  • APAP
Drug: oxycodone
Oxycodone is a potent semi-synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain when other treatments are insufficient
Other Names:
  • Oxycodone Hydrochloride Capsules
Experimental: Acetaminophen + ibuprofen + oxycodone
Participants are encouraged to take acetaminophen 976 mg and ibuprofen 600 mg every 6 hours for the first 48 hours to a maximum of 7 days after surgery, and a prescription for 6 tablets of oxycodone 5 mg will be prescribed to take every 6 hours as needed for pain.
Drug: Acetaminophen
Acetaminophen is a widely used, over-the-counter medication that relieves mild to moderate pain and reduces fever. Unlike NSAIDs like ibuprofen, it does not treat inflammation or swelling.
Other Names:
  • paracetamol
  • APAP
Drug: ibuprofen
Ibuprofen is a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to relieve mild to moderate pain, reduce fever, and decrease inflammation.
Other Names:
  • Motrin
Drug: oxycodone
Oxycodone is a potent semi-synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain when other treatments are insufficient
Other Names:
  • Oxycodone Hydrochloride Capsules

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) - Total Score
Time Frame: 1 to 7 days post operatively
The Brief Pain Inventory is a self-reported questionnaire to assess pain. Final scores will be averaged. The score range is 0 to 10, where a higher score indicates a worse outcome.
1 to 7 days post operatively

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) - Pain Interference Score
Time Frame: 1 to 7 days post operatively
The Pain Interference Score ranges from 0 to 10, where a higher score indicates greater interference with daily life.
1 to 7 days post operatively
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) - Pain Severity Score
Time Frame: 1 to 7 days post operatively
The Pain Severity Score ranges from 0 to 10, where a higher score indicates greater severity.
1 to 7 days post operatively

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Columbia University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Aaron Brant, MD, Columbia University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
September 10, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 31, 2030

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 31, 2035

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 6, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 11, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 17, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 17, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 11, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • ACYY1239

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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