"You will lose your sex drive. Your genitals will swell. You will suffer excruciating pain. You won’t be able to get an erection or ejaculate. You won’t be a man anymore. While it is a routine operation—nearly 500,000 are performed in the United States every year—the myths about vasectomies fester. In fact, the outpatient procedure is a simple form of birth control for men, intended to be permanent, in which the health care provider closes or blocks the tubes that carry sperm. This prevents sperm from leaving the body or causing pregnancy; the body instead absorbs it. Used as birth control, vasectomies are nearly 100 percent effective." - Steven Perez from Bookmarklet

People keep suggesting I get one of these (including fiance), but there is something inside me that just can't do it. - Rah-PM 2012

Had a friend who did it. He said it helped solidify his relationship with his wife. - Steven Perez

I'm getting one Monday. Didn't have to think twice about it and my wife says that a vasectomy makes me more of a man, while a man who falls into the trap of the vasectomy myths, is de facto less of a man. - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

I got one 30 years ago, no problems! :) - Lars Clausen

@Rahsheen, your fiance? So she NEVER wants to have kids with you after you get married? - Alex Scrivener

I'm with you, Rahsheen... there are other ways to practice birth control. Plus, something my friend said to me, a guy who's married and has three kids, sticks with me: "What if something happens to my family? Wouldn't I want a chance to start another family?" Generally, I'm against any elective surgery that takes away natural functions - .LAG liked that

@LAG: but what if you're in your 40s or older, you would still want to start a new family after that, so when your kids are graduating you will be retiring? I agree that when you're still young a vasectomy is not the birth control of choice. And when the time comes for birth control, would you rather have your wife have a very invasive procedure (tubal ligation or hysterectomy) in favor of a simple outpatient vasectomy? - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

Interesting article: http://friendfeed.com/gender-... - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

Of course, I have to jump in now...lol. @LAG: I would suggest that you list out those other forms of birth control, and consider their pros and cons, then draw a comparison. The vast majority of birth control place responsibility on the female partner, often with side effects that aren't great in the long term. Second, elective surgery that takes away natural functions? Which natural function does vasectomy take away? @Steven - great topic! :D - Prosey BUTTONS!

This will be our form of birth control once we're done having children. If I can have a baby cut out of my belly, my husband can easily have his vas deferens snipped! - Melly Botts

My ex refused to get snipped. His argument? I shouldn't breed anyway, since I had depression. (Of course, he's (a) got borderline personality disorder, (b) got Asperger syndrome, (c) an abusive a**hole, (d) all of the above. - Ladyepiphanybug

Oh Heather, what a POS. Sounds a lot like my ex - who, when I suggested we get marriage counseling told me, "We don't have a problem, but if you think YOU have a problem, then maybe YOU should see a shrink." -- this, given (at the time) about a decade of TONS of marital problems that I had been suggesting we see a marriage counselor for years about. *HIS* reason for refusing a vasectomy? Because "you never know..." -- and he wasn't kidding. Schmuck. To any man who genuinely does not want kids -- this procedure is NOTHING. And it's really cool to watch. *nod* - Prosey BUTTONS!

Word of caution: *be sure* to go to your follow-up appointment that tests the effectiveness of the operation. A friend of mine didn't and lo was he surprised when his girlfriend came up pregnant a few months later. The operation doesn't always 'take' so you gotta check and make sure. - Kevin Fox

I have a kid already with my fiance and it's still up in the air whether we will have more. She says no, but it's not a set in stone, No. More like a Not Right Now. I'm with LAG in that I'm wary of any procedure that permanently changes what I'm naturally able to do. Plus, I'm only 30. - Rah-PM 2012

Kevin, it can take months before the sperm count is at 0 -- and the docs generally want two 0-counts in a row to be sure. Not necessarily that it doesn't "take" -- just that additional contraception should be used in the meantime. And sperm count checks once per year thereafter, to be sure (because in *very* rare cases, the vas can reconnect). @Rah, yeah, you're in a position that if more children *might* be a desired possibility, then this is not the choice for you (but honestly, vasectomy does not change any functionality - it just prevents sperm from leaving the body...you would still produce sperm). I have to laugh when any man is concerned about a surgery that "changes" what he is "naturally" able to do -- particularly if they were circumcised as infants and have lost the fullest of the sensation that they otherwise would have "naturally" had. :) - Prosey BUTTONS!

Kevin, it depends on how the Dr. does the operation. If he just ties off the vas deferens or makes a cut, it is possible that it could heal back. If he takes a section out of the vas deferens and then cauterizes and stitches both lose ends, it's a pretty sure thing. Also some very small percentage of men apparently have more that two vas deferens tubes and if you don't cut them all, then the procedure does not work, obviously. - Jeff P. Henderson

Recanalization does not guarantee restoration of fertility; and duplicated vas deferens "syndrome" exists in less than 0.05% of the population making it highly unlikely - and the likelihood is that it would be seen/felt during the procedure, or a persistent sperm count of greater than 0 after 6 months would clue the urologist to the possibility. (http://www.vasectomy-information.com/wordpre...) - Prosey BUTTONS!

@Rah: the natural function comprises of two things: semen and sperm. What a vasectomy does is remove the sperm out of the equasion, but your ejaculation will still be pretty much the same, it is only missing the sperm (fertility part). And I ask you the same question I've asked LAG: would you want your fiance to have a tubal ligation or hysterectomy in preference over you having a vasectomy? - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

@Kevin: I have a follow-up in 2 weeks and then I have to provide two semen samples in the next 5 months to make sure the sperm count is zero. After that, it is suggested to do annual sperm check. - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

Rene, my aversion to getting my nuts cut has nothing to do with what I would want my fiance to do. I just don't want a knife anywhere near my business. I don't want to be permanently unable to reproduce. I don't prefer that she does anything. On another note, let's say I still want kids, but she doesn't. Why should I get a vasectomy? - Rah-PM 2012

Rah (I know I'm not Rene, but...) - my thought is if you still want more kids, then something like sterilization is not the right option for you. I disagree with *involuntary* surgery, or undue pressure from another person about something you feel is not something in your best interest. If, however, you were at a place in your life that you knew you and she together absolutely did not want any more kids, then the more ideal choice for surgery (between you and any female partner) would be you, since a vasectomy is safer and more affordable than a tubal ligation. - Prosey BUTTONS!

@Rah: it is understood that right now vasectomy is not for you, but your fear of having a knife anywhere near your business is a little irrational, although that is my personal opinion. You are locally anesthetized and you will have a taken a few valium to relax. Plus, trust me, the urologist knows what he is doing. The whole thing was done in less than 15 minutes. - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

Rene is correct, the surgery is really a non-issue, very minor and doesn't hurt. You are in and out of the office in less than an hour. - Jeff P. Henderson

Yup. And now after 8 hours, I only used an icepack (alternating 20-30 off and on) and 2 percocets and I've only feeling a very slight, dull pain. I wouldn't even call it pain, it's a mere annoyance. - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

I'd rather use a condom with spermicide than either party have surgery. I know condoms aren't 100%, but the chances are low enough to be the better alternative to either partner going under the knife. But then, I'm personally aversive of surgery unless it's something I really need. - alphaxion

@alphaxion: what is your reason for the apprehension? Fear? - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

I think it's a deep seated thing due to a disturbing dream I had when I was 7 or 8 where I dreamt my own death (was in a hospital, on a life support machine when they switched it off). Also, I'm uneasy with the concept of casually slicing into a healthy body when non-invasive alternatives exist. No surgery should ever be taken lightly, regardless of how commonly it is performed. - alphaxion

It is true that surgery should never be taken lightly, but the chances that something goes (horribly) wrong with a vasectomy are slim to none. - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

alphaxion, It's about as non invasive as you can get and still call it surgery. Removing a cyst or a mole is probably more invasive. The risk of complications from this procedure is almost nill. - Jeff P. Henderson

I guess there is also the desire to have your options open should minds change over time without requiring yet another procedure. - alphaxion

@alphaxion: That, of course, is a valid reason. - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

@jeff while it's nothing compared to having to go deeply into the body, it's still a drastic solution to a problem with other alternatives. As long as it was proven to not have any major side effects (since flooding the body with extra chemicals/hormones will have other effects than chemical castration), a pill solution would also not be out of the equation. So far, a condom has served me well and not delivered any unexpected presents. I've found my solution. To each their own :D - alphaxion

tho I do agree with the general train of thought that contraception is not just something the woman has to deal with, as we (the male) have an equal share in any offspring too. - alphaxion

My husband called Planned Parenthood from the maternity ward as soon as our one very-much-wanted child was born. Bless him. - m9m, Crone of FriendFeed

Had 1, got clipped. The End. - ‘-.-’ Tutivillus Grift

Rene, Prose Petal ...good points. To Prose's question what natural functions does a vasectomy take away: well, the most important life function of all-- the ability to procreate. To Rene's issue: would you want your kids graduating when you're retiring? I think that really depends on the person, and on the children and the joy (or horror) they bring to ones life. I remember reading about the late actor Anthony Quinn, he fathered 13 children, the last when he was nearly 60. Again, it's a personal choice. I wouldn't make it, but to each his own. - .LAG liked that

I know of no other alternatives for males to achieve permanent 100% contraception. Compared to all of the female alternatives it has significantly less risk and is the least invasive. I understand that it is not for everyone and some people are adverse to surgery of any kind. That's why there are other non surgical methods to chose from if one desires. I did not have an issue with it, it worked fine for me. - Jeff P. Henderson

Jeff ...cool. I think the best thing about it, at least in the States right now, is that each individual can make the choice. I'm for personal choice in all things. - .LAG liked that

@LAG: it is interesting that men have a choice on reproductive measures, while women do no have that same choice. - Rene, Pro Button Pusher

@LAG: I understand the ability to procreate is removed (it's not *technically* contraception; it's sterilization *nod*) -- but once a person has had children, or if a person is CFBC, then beyond the option to remove the ability to procreate, then there is no single other function that vasectomy removes or inhibits. And I fully agree about choice. This is NOT a desired choice for everyone, which is understandable. What *does* irk me, though, is that many (not all, but many) men call the suggestion of vasectomy a woman "trying to control a man's body" -- while simultaneously trying to tell her what she "can" or "can't" do with her uterus (meaning, abortion). - Prosey BUTTONS!

Or...*heavy sigh*...take away the choice of their newborn infant sons by opting to have them circumcised...which to me is just as bad. - Prosey BUTTONS!