Readers Respond: What is Preventing You From Getting a Vasectomy?

Though vasectomies are over 99% effective, men may:

• Feel uneasy having a doctor tinker around their "manhood" with a scalpel (yet you can get a no-scalpel vasectomy)
  
  
• Falsely think getting a vasectomy will lower your sex drive, testosterone levels and/or affect sexual performance
  
  
• Fear pain after a vasectomy
  
  
• Are scared of regretting this choice and may want a vasectomy reversal
• Think a vasectomy costs too much

If you're considering getting a vasectomy, what are your fears? What's preventing you from getting a vasectomy?

I want to, but for less noble reasons

I am wanting to do it, but I don't have kids, or even a wife or girlfriend. I want to do it to make sure I never have kids, because quite frankly, I don't want any. Plus, I'll be better financially, and besides, there are already over seven billion people on the Earth. Why should I have to add to the population?

—Guest Eric

Scared shitless

I am going in for a tubal ligation my husband and I decided years ago to not have kids and i'm now 38 and still get clucky but dont want my own but now it's a case off having this op i cant stop crying because i know that that option really is shut off to me for ever and I cant wrap my head around this feeling, it's just so final when that door is closed, I cant describe what i'm feeling it just feels funny i cant exprese it has anyone had these feelings or am i the only one?

—karrsey

side effects and cost without insurance

I am worried about the side effects that can happen as well as how much would it cost without insurance.

—Guest roy

Pretty worried

What worries me is both the chronic pain and the risk of autoimmune diseases. I already have rheumatoid arthritis and take a lot of different immunosuppressants, the thought of the condition getting worse and having more chronic pain scares me. Isn't that reasonable?

—Guest worried man

Do you and I'll do me.

I believe it is selfish of the guy to not at least grasp what women deal with in their child bearing years. To insist that they go through further procedure and changes so you can remain the same and protect your psychological well being is unfair. I can't make you take any kind of birth control responsibility in our later years and you can't make me have sex with you when I come off birth control. Your psychological well being in left in tact and my body is free of additional hormones! Hey, Life is great for both of us.

—Guest Guest Nellie

Vasectomies cost more

Vasectomies cost more (as of 2013 insurance coverage under Patient Protectiona and Affordable Care Act) than all female methods and for those of us who have high deductible policies (which is becoming most insurance plans), they cost a lot more. If vasectomies are a preferred sterilization procedure, then how come that are not required to be coverage with no cost share? Why should a couple be penalized financially for chosing what is supposed to be the less-invasive and risky procedure? Please explain to me how this provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act makes any sense at all, who this serves, and what possible motivation could the Congress and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius have for structuring the law and HSS rules this way?

—dspwilson

In The Process

My wife and I have built the family we have always wanted and for the last two years have discussed vasectomy vs. tubal ligation. There were several issues to consider for us. We both are in the healthcare field but yet it did not soften the "concerns" I had regarding the afterlife of vasectomy. First as an "over 40" man there is already a decrease in Testosterone and I was afraid that it would only make things worse. However, the complication with general anesthesia of the tubal ligation added to our concerns. In the end, it was decided by me that I would do this for my wife. I am 9 days post op and most of the concerns and fears of pain are in my head. I have found that I often am being overly cautious and after doing something say, "Wow! That did hurt." I know people who have had some "major" complications but in the light of the number of people that I know who have had the procedure it is almost minuscule. And to an earlier commenter the fluid of an "O" comes from the prostate not the testes, so do worry.

—Guest John

vasectomy vs. TL

After reading these inputs, I'm convinced that I need to go for vasectomy. No way will I allow my wife to do a TL. We've been debating on this for some time now. Thanks all for your invaluable inputs.

—Guest jj

Not all good

I had a vasectomy 2 years ago and have some side effects that were not there before the operation. And now, I get to experience this for the rest of my life. Please make sure you are aware that there may be risks. Male concerns are just as valid as female concerns. Let's all try and remember that.

—Guest Brandon M

my hubby refuses

All th above comments really help. Thanks guys for being so open on this matter. @ 1st I was feeling like my hubby was selfish for refusing to get a vas, but his concerns pull some weight. He's worried that he will lose some of the sensation that comes with ejaculating semen. He was told by a work peer that after a vas he would have a dry "O". His ability to enjoy sex is really important and I'm only worried about undergoing gen. anasthesia 4 a tubal. We've had 3 kids and we're done buildin our fam. I'd rather get myself "fixed" than go thru pregnancy and birth again. Come on ladies! If we can make it thru childbirth, then a tubal shouldn't be so scary. If ur man would do almost anything for u, then u should return the gesture. Men aren't "whimps" for being scared of a vas, they're simply human, and deserve to have their feelings taken seriously. If both partners are scared then consider a different type of birth controll!

—Guest geri

Guess I need to take care of business

I had my second and final child 8 months ago. My hubbie has been talking about having a vasectomy for a year and a half, but has never pulled the trigger. He always brings it up in front of people like he's looking for some kind of social acceptance, meanwhile the majority of men we know have had it done. Meanwhile, I don't enjoy sex as much as I used to because I'm worried about getting pregnant again. I guess it's time that I take the bull by the horns and just have my tubes tied. It didn't even cross my mind when I had my last child, otherwise I would have just had it done while I was having my C. Do your wife a favor, men, and just DO IT!!!! It'll really make your wife happy and will probably free her up sexually to just enjoy herself instead of waiting for you to ruin the moment by pulling out.

—Guest Frustrated