Getting a vasectomy

[nickbits]

I'm not clear from your post if you decided to get one or not.

Fwiw, I posted I this thread before and said I would get one if I wasn't so lazy and finally got it done last year. WIN. Although it took an unplanned pregnancy to get it done. Better off doing it before that happens (but she miscarried so I'm still childless). Had the no scalpel variant, procedure went smooth. Felt like I was kicked in the balls for about a week. Can't even see a scar or evidence that I had it done.

I would not have regretted doing it at 23. 32 now. My wife might change her mind and want kids at some point (hopefully not but she's only 29) but that would never be enough for me to bring an unwanted child into the world. I will never change my mind and I will never get a reversal.

 

[ichy]

Dear god, if you think that Atlas Shrugged is worth reading then you DEFINITELY shouldn't reproduce.

 

[crashtestdummy]

If you don't want kids, then I'm glad you're not having them. All the other arguments aside, kids shouldn't have to be raised by folks who don't want them. For that reason alone, I commend you for your actions.

FYI for those in committed relationships who are considering something like this, another method of contraception that's surprisingly rare in the US is the IUD. They're extremely reliable (like an order of magnitude lower failure rate than the pill) don't have hormone side effects like the pill does and contrary to myth they don't cause horrible infections.

Also this. There was a scandal in the 70's with the Dalkon shield, where a braided thread with a poor sheath enabled pelvic infections. Devices currently in use are well-established and don't have these problems, but the scare from the 70s is keeping American women away from it. They last for about ten years, and have a similar failure rate to having a women's tubes tied (~2% of people get pregnant over a span of 12 years).

 

[SunnyD]

Also this. There was a scandal in the 70's with the Dalkon shield, where a braided thread with a poor sheath enabled pelvic infections. Devices currently in use are well-established and don't have these problems, but the scare from the 70s is keeping American women away from it. They last for about ten years, and have a similar failure rate to having a women's tubes tied (~2% of people get pregnant over a span of 12 years).

The only problem with IUDs (that some people may have) in general is that they don't prevent conception. They prevent implantation of a developing embryo into the uterine wall. For some people/cultures/religion, this amounts to abortion. Granted, most of those same people would have issues with preventing conception in the first place. But it's something to keep in mind.

 

[ichy]

The only problem with IUDs (that some people may have) in general is that they don't prevent conception. They prevent implantation of a developing embryo into the uterine wall. For some people/cultures/religion, this amounts to abortion. Granted, most of those same people would have issues with preventing conception in the first place. But it's something to keep in mind.

From what I've read we still aren't exactly sure how IUDs work :eep: We know that they do and there's a possibility that they work by preventing implantation but that certainly hasn't been established.

Also, pretty much every religion that's anti-IUD is also anti people deciding not to have kids at all so it's sort of irrelevant.

 

[Circlenaut]

I agree most ideas in atlas shrugged are horrible especially Rand's hero worship but I won't discard the whole book because of that. From that book I took the idea that the mind is the most valuable thing and to have confidence in myself. In Buddhism I liked it's ethics and mental practice but the superstitions? no way. I've learned to sieve through the shit to find the gold. But I know nothing

 

[crashtestdummy]

The only problem with IUDs (that some people may have) in general is that they don't prevent conception. They prevent implantation of a developing embryo into the uterine wall. For some people/cultures/religion, this amounts to abortion. Granted, most of those same people would have issues with preventing conception in the first place. But it's something to keep in mind.

It's thought to work both ways, but you're definitely right that if you believe life starts at egg fertilization, you probably don't want a copper IUD. Hormonal IUDs are unlikely to have this moral issue, as they function more like the birth control pill with localized hormonal delivery to the uterus.

 

[ichy]

It's thought to work both ways, but you're definitely right that if you believe life starts at egg fertilization, you probably don't want a copper IUD. Hormonal IUDs are unlikely to have this moral issue, as they function more like the birth control pill with localized hormonal delivery to the uterus.

If you believe that life begins at fertilization then you probably belong to a religion that's against contraception anyways.

 

[SandEagle]

why bother getting married then if you don't want kids?
anyway, congrats i guess

 

[SunnyD]

why bother getting married then if you don't want kids?
anyway, congrats i guess

Marriage has benefits outside of children. Particular in terms of taxes. Then again, children have benefits when it comes to taxes. Though imho the long term costs of raising children severely outweighs what you "save" in taxes.

 

[Chess]

I've made up my mind a long time ago that I don't want kids. Even if I may possibly want kids, I'll MUCH rather adopt than father my own child. I'm 23 now, graduating with a Biotech degree and so will soon have some funds to get this done. I know that my current HMO (Tufts) covers vasectomies but I'd have to go through my primary care to get a referral and I'm not entirely sure he'll give me one (I'm expecting the typical, oh you're so young yada yada, are you sure? yada yada BS). I have an appointment with him in a few weeks, so I'll see. In case he denies me do any of you know what's the best stratagy for scouting out an urologist to do this out-of-pocket? Also, what should I expect damage wise (cost).

Good luck.... I had a friend do it about a year ago.... he said the worst part are the 3 needles in your nuts...

 

[JoeMcJoe]

Good on you Pippy. I agree with you for the most part.

Too many children out there who need good parents.

Having a child is probably the most selfish act a person can perform, bringing a life into the world for themselves, for their own enjoyment. People who have 4,5,6 or more children, should be illegal, but yet the rest of us are taxed to help support their breeding mission.
Adopt a cat or dog too.

 

[soulcougher73]

why bother getting married then if you don't want kids?
anyway, congrats i guess

What does marriage and kids have to do with each other? Marriage is about a commitment to a person. Has nothing to do with wanting or not wanting children.

 

[ArizonaSteve]

I'm with the OP. Didn't want kids at 16, didn't want them at 23. Or at 30. Hit my early 40's and got snipped nearly four years ago. No regrets.

 

[Nebor]

Since you are so young, I'd recommend holding out a copule years until RISUG\Vasalgel comes on the market in the US (or foreigners are allowed to receive it overseas.) It's a 100% effective, 100% reversible procedure in which some sort of negatively charged polymer is injected into the vas deferens and coats the inner walls of the tubes. The electrons flying around crippled your sperm as they swim by, making you totally sterile. There have been no pregnancies out of the thousands of trials in India. There's also no severe complications like with a traditional vasectomy, because your sperm isn't building up, dying, overcrowding your scrotum, living in testicular slums and resorting to gang violence. And when\if you're ready to be fertile again, they just have to rinse away the polymer with some saline and you're good again. IIRC the polymer will last around 10 years before you need another injection, the procedure is nearly pain free and costs (in India) less than $100.

It should revolutionalize male birth control. Probably worth waiting for. IIRC trials should be starting in the US in 2012.

 

[ichy]

It should revolutionalize male birth control. Probably worth waiting for. IIRC trials should be starting in the US in 2012.

At the snail's pace that clinical trials go that means it'll probably be available for sale around 2035.

 

[SunnyD]

Since you are so young, I'd recommend holding out a copule years until RISUG\Vasalgel comes on the market in the US (or foreigners are allowed to receive it overseas.) It's a 100% effective, 100% reversible procedure in which some sort of negatively charged polymer is injected into the vas deferens and coats the inner walls of the tubes. The electrons flying around crippled your sperm as they swim by, making you totally sterile. There have been no pregnancies out of the thousands of trials in India. There's also no severe complications like with a traditional vasectomy, because your sperm isn't building up, dying, overcrowding your scrotum, living in testicular slums and resorting to gang violence. And when\if you're ready to be fertile again, they just have to rinse away the polymer with some saline and you're good again. IIRC the polymer will last around 10 years before you need another injection, the procedure is nearly pain free and costs (in India) less than $100.

It should revolutionalize male birth control. Probably worth waiting for. IIRC trials should be starting in the US in 2012.

Yeah, the possibility of damaged/mutated sperm fertilizing an egg... what could possibly go wrong!

On and lets not forget - if it fucks up the sperm pretty good, what else could it possibly do the the surrounding tissues over the long term?

And yeah, clinical trials in India? Sure, thanks... sign me up for that.

 

[Dr. Zaus]

What could be a better reason for divorce than a disagreement about something as fundamental as having kids?

What could be more disturbing than often "reminding" someone of a threat of divorce? I guess that you feel you need to do that...

They're extremely reliable (like an order of magnitude lower failure rate than the pill) don't have hormone side effects like the pill does and contrary to myth they don't cause horrible infections.

I'm tall, my wife is short and the tiny wire pokes me.

From what I've read we still aren't exactly sure how IUDs work :eep: We know that they do and there's a possibility that they work by preventing implantation but that certainly hasn't been established.

false. If you belie that life begins at conception then the IUD is unacceptable because both have part of their efficacy from keeping a fertilized egg from implanting.

If you believe that life begins at fertilization then you probably belong to a religion that's against contraception anyways.

While Catholics don't do contraception and believe that life begins when the egg is fertilized; the majority of protestant groups accept contraception but still believe life begins at conception.