Vasectomy is an extremely effective form of birth control. It’s also permanent, unlike other forms of birth control like hormonal pills or tubal ligation.
There’s also no risk of vasectomy causing cancer or increasing heart disease. However, men may experience swelling and pain after surgery. Keeping ice packs on the scrotum and wearing supportive underwear like a jockstrap can help reduce these symptoms.
1. It’s less of a burden
A vasectomy is a minimally invasive, permanent surgical procedure that is nearly 100% effective at preventing pregnancy. It’s performed in a doctor’s office or surgery center under local anesthesia, so you will be awake but pain-free. Compared to the common form of permanent birth control for women called tubal ligation, which requires general anesthesia and is performed in an operating room, vasectomies have less risk of complications and side effects.
Sperm are made in a man’s testicles and travel through two small tubes in the scrotum called the vas deferens before they reach the penis. A vasectomy is a simple operation that blocks the tubes in the scrotum, so they cannot carry sperm to the urethra and cause pregnancy. The tubes are either tied off or burned, and the skin incision is closed with stitches or glue. There are different methods of vasectomies, but the no-scalpel (no-cut) method reduces bleeding, swelling, and recovery time.
After a vasectomy, men may have some blood in their semen for the first few ejaculations, but this is not harmful and will resolve with time. Men may experience pain or swelling for a fewdays after the operation but can relieve these symptoms by supporting the scrotum with tight-fitting underwear or a jockstrap and applying ice packs to the area.
Vasectomy does not affect a man’s sex drive or sexual satisfaction, but it does remove the need for men to take birth control steps before sex. This allows couples to enjoy each other’s company without worrying about whether or not they have a condom on. It also eliminates the need to remember and worry about a daily pill, which can lead to mood swings in both partners.
2. It’s less of a risk
Vasectomy is one of the most effective forms of birth control. It prevents pregnancy by sealing the tubes in the scrotum that carry sperm. It’s a minor surgical procedure done in the doctor’s office under local anesthesia. Men may experience pain after a vasectomy, but most don’t have any serious complications or side effects. It’s much less risky than tubal ligation and far cheaper than hormonal birth control pills for women.
Hormonal birth control can cause negative side effects for a woman, including mood swings, spotting, cramping, and weight gain. Plus, the pill increases a woman’s risk for serious health conditions, like blood clots and heart disease.
With a vasectomy, a man eliminates the need for hormonal birth control and can stop worrying about missing a dose or forgetting to put on a condom. But he still needs to use other birth control to prevent pregnancy until the remaining sperm is cleared out of his semen. This takes about 15 to 20 ejaculations.
It’s also important to know that a vasectomy is permanent, so only get one if you’re 100% sure you don’t want to ever have children again. Tubal ligations, on the other hand, can be reversed (though it’s not guaranteed).
Men who have a vasectomy can still enjoy sexual pleasure after their operation because it doesn’tdecrease their sex drive or affect their ability to get an erection or ejaculate semen. However, the ejaculation of blood in the first few sex sessions can be painful and annoying for some men. Wear tight-fitting underwear or athletic support day and night for a few days after the procedure to reduce this discomfort. You can also try acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol) to help ease the pain.
3. It’s more of a reward
As men continue to push for egalitarian marriages and a better work-life balance, they’re starting to talk more about their reproductive choices. Yet, for many, a vasectomy is still an afterthought. There’s a built-in presumption that women will bear nearly all of the reproductive burdens, even though reproducing (at least in this country) always takes two.
During a vasectomy, doctors block the tubes in a man’s scrotum called the vas deferens that connect to the prostate and seminal vesicles to make semen, which can cause pregnancy if it gets into a woman’s vagina. The testicles still make sperm, but the sperm never reaches the semen that gets ejaculated out of the penis and is thus incapable of fertilizing an egg. Instead, the sperm is soaked up by the body.
In a study, researchers found that, on average, only 32% of women perceived their partners to be interested in getting a vasectomy. Interestingly, in multivariable-adjusted logistic regression, socioeconomic status was the only significant indicator associated with interest in a vasectomy. Women with higher levels of education and those receiving US government assistance were more likely to report their partners’ interest in a vasectomy.
A vasectomy is a permanent procedure, so it should only be done when a man is confident that he doesn’t want to have any more children. He should also discuss this decision with his partner if they’re in a relationship so that he’s clear about the choice he’s making. And if the pair decides it’s not right for them, there are plenty of other birth control options available that aren’t permanent, such as condoms, IUDs, and withdrawal. These other methods don’t come with the negative side effects that can occur with hormonal birth control, like spotting, cramps, and mood swings.
4. It’s more of a responsibility
Women have a lot to do in a relationship—from raising kids and running the household to having a career and maintaining their own well-being. While gender norms around family planning often see men as the primary caregivers and decision-makers, women often wish that they could delegate some of this responsibility to their partners. While there are plenty of contraceptive options that allow partners to share the responsibility, a vasectomy is permanent and a great option for both women and men who want to relieve some of the burden on their female partners.
In a qualitative study conducted in Kenya, community health volunteers, community health officers, and public health nurses were interviewed to explore their views on male vasectomy uptake and its impact on marital faithfulness. A total of 16 CHVs, 16 CHOs, and 20 PHNs were interviewed using purposive sampling techniques.
The majority of women participants reported that they wished their partners would get vasectomies. Interestingly, these women were more likely to be married, in a long-term relationship (5 years), and live on a low income.
However, these same women expressed concerns about the impact of vasectomy on their partner’s sexual faithfulness. They believed that a vasectomy gave their partner the green light to engage in extramarital sexual activity, leading to marital instability.
A vasectomy, like any other form of birth control, won’t protect your partner from sexually transmitted infections like chlamydia or HIV/AIDS. For that reason, it’s still a good idea to use condoms, especially in high-risk situations or when you and your partner are unsure of whether you have been exposed to any of these diseases. Having a vasectomy can eliminate the need for your partner to take hormonal birth control, which can be confusing to remember every day and easy to forget, or to deal with potential side effects like weight gain or hormone manipulation.
5. It’s more of a responsibility
Traditionally, the burden of birth control has fallen largely on the women in a relationship. But there’s a growing trend of men taking on more of the responsibility for their partners’ contraception. Vasectomy, the only male method of permanent birth control available other than tubal ligation, has seen an increase in interest since Roe v. Wade was overturned. In fact, a recent study by Innerbody Research found that online searches for vasectomy have increased by 850% since the Supreme Court’s decision.
There’s nothing sexier than a man who steps up and does his part, especially in the realm of family planning. While there’s no proof that vasectomy makes a woman any less happy or satisfied, the simple fact is that most couples feel better when they don’t have to deal with hormonal birth control.
Hormonal birth control causes negative side effects like spotting, cramps, headaches, and weight gain that can disrupt a woman’s quality of life. Plus, it increases the risk of certain health conditions, like cervical cancer and blood clots.
With pregnancy rates on the rise, it’s time for both men and women to step up and do their part in protecting their health. The COVID-19 pandemic has reopened the lines of conversation about who takes on which risks when it comes to contraception, and a vasectomy is one great way for a man to step up to the plate. Just don’t forget that a vasectomy won’t protect you against sexually transmitted diseases like chlamydia or HIV/AIDS. So, if you’re thinking about getting a vasectomy, be sure to talk to your partner first and make the most informed decision for your family. It’s the smart, responsible thing to do.
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