There are increasing number of Australian males opting for a vasectomy. Here are some reasons why you may get a vasectomy:
- Removing the burden of birth control off your partner – There are many forms of birth control for women today and only 2 for men (condoms and vasectomy). Female birth control is more expensive and has more health risks than males. A vasectomy saves your partner from uncomfortable procedures, side effects of hormones, needing appointments for injections, prescriptions, or implants. She will no longer need to be responsible for preventing pregnancy. This is a very precious gift any man can give to his partner as she no longer have to tolerate the side effects of hormones, besides the trauma of going through pregnancies and childbirths from an unwanted pregnancy.
- Non-Hormonal - Unlike many contraceptives for women, vasectomy is a non-hormonal form of contraception, and men do not have to worry about the side effects of hormonal contraception.
- Improves your sex life - Removing the worry of pregnancy will make sex more enjoyable. If you are in a stable relationship, you do not have to use any condoms(once follow up semen test shows no sperm) , and sex becomes more spontaneous and pleasurable. It may also strengthen your relationship.
It is important to note that having a vasectomy does not protect you against any sexually transmitted infections.
- Cost Effective and convenient- Vasectomy is a ‘once in a lifetime’ procedure and there is no maintenance or follow up costs. Over the long term, vasectomy can be cost-effective compared to other forms of contraception like oral pills or condoms that require regular purchases. It is definitely way cheaper than raising another child.
- Reproductive choice for men-Vasectomy allows men to take control of their reproductive choices. It’s often chosen by couples or individuals who are confident in their decision to not have any or any more children. It is also a lifestyle choice for many men or couples because if they do not want children, they can get a vasectomy done any time.
- Very effective and reliable contraception-Vasectomy is highly effective at preventing pregnancy. It is more effective compared to all other methods of contraception.
- Partner’s Health - Some men choose vasectomy for health reasons related to their partner’s health or the potential risks associated with pregnancy. The trauma of their partner going through the process of pregnancy and childbirth repeatedly compels many men to undergo a vasectomy.
- Increasing cost of raising a child - The ever-rising cost of raising a child, giving good education, and looking after the health and wellbeing of a child often takes toll on the parents. It can be very demanding, stressful, and exhausting for parents. This is why more and more couples and men are now discussing their reproductive goals and making an informed decision on how many children they want to have.
- Safer than tubal ligation – The female version of sterilization is tubal ligation. It’s a surgical procedure that requires anaesthesia and incisions into the woman’s abdomen. It is at least 10 times riskier than a vasectomy. Risks to her include bleeding, infection, damage to other abdominal organs, and reaction to anaesthesia. Vasectomies are done in the office, with local anaesthesia, and rarely result in any complication.
The decision to undergo a vasectomy should first and foremost be undertaken between partners in a careful, well-considered manner. It’s important that you and your partner are on the same page regarding not having any more kids in future.
Vasectomy may not be a right option for a man if he is unsure whether he wants children or not and if he is considering reversal operation in future.
A vasectomy is not recommended as a short-term form of birth control. The surgery to reverse a vasectomy is a much more complicated operation. Moreover, it has a low success rate and is relatively very expensive, and may not be covered by insurance.
If you have any desire to have children in the future we encourage you to NOT have a vasectomy at this time.
