Figured I'd try out this anonymous thing by asking about anyone's experiences with vasectomies. I'm 33, and have one child and my wife and I agree that we're OK with not having another one (I'm an only child, so it doesn't seem at all odd to me). Rather than her continue to take the pill I've been seriously thinking about getting a vasectomy........
... then I read about the procedure. Holy s#$@%!!! Just thinking about letting someone get that close with a needle/knife to the ol' family jewels makes me hurt. Bad. Like even thinking about it now I kind of have a dull, phantom ache in my balls. Then I kind of feel guilty- I mean, look at the size of my kid's head and shoulders. What's a little incision or two in the sack in a procedure that takes maybe 1 hour compared to the extended labor my wife went through and all of the tearing and whatnot that went along with that??
Now, I can read all about the procedure online and become fairly educated (and see enough diagrams of men's reproductive systems to last a lifetime)- what I really want to know is how many of you have actually done this and what's it really like? Especially in the days immediately after the procedure- I mean, was it like you were kind of sore, or was it like David Beckham's been kicking you right in the groin over and over? Is it possible to be the sole caretaker of my 15 month old the next day or should my wife stay home a day or two to help nurse me back to health?
Big V
At 33 and with only one kid, Big V, you may have a hard time (no pun intended) finding a doc to do the procedure. I asked my doc about it and he told me to wait till 40, "bank," then look for the right surgen for me.
There are surgical and no-cuting type of vasectomies. Open ended and tied.
Where ever it is you live go to the city with most resources in this department and research - that doesn't men Google things - talk to other men, as you are here, and talk to uroligists etc about your options. 3 of my friends, all dads, had the snip and they say their sex life has never been better.
Good Luck.
Be Seeing You.
i'm fixed
outside of the comedy of the first two to three weeks everything is fine... which is to say my sex and/or masturbation schedule didn't go down the tubes.
oh shit did i just make a funny?
as far as i know, they only give em on fridays show you can "rest" all weekend. picking up a child frequently might be an issue for the first week (or maybe i'm confusing the vasec w/ the hernia op...)
mine was a $30 co-pay which definitely seemed like a better option than having the wife go back on the pill and pay that once a month.
more detail can be found at my blog which i started by the way because i was getting a the V and had no one to talk to about it so i talked to myself online. really, i'm not crazy. (not crazy, not crazy, not crazy)
http://thechestpains.blogspot.com/2005_01_22_archive.html
My wife
And i talked to her OBGYN and she mentioned a for of birth control, and i don't remember the name and this might sound odd but i swear i am not making this up, where a little ball like thing is placed inside the woman and it floats around inside her removing the uterus lining and it stays inside for ten years and then you replace it with another one.
My wife and I were having a conversation about what to do after we have our last one and neither one of us wanted to go under the knife, and we were both very happy to learn about this.
IUD
I haven't heard of the exact form of birth control that TheNorman is referring to, so I am not sure if it is described properly. However, the form of birth control that I know of that is most like what he described is known as an IUD (intrauterine device). There are forms of IUDs that are made of copper, and other forms of IUD that slowly release hormones. The good news is that IUDs are very effective and are effective over long periods of time. My wife currently uses a copper IUD that only needs replacement every 10 years. The great things about it are that it doesn't release any hormones (my wife had a DVT during pregnancy, so hormone therapies are not an option), it only requires one doctor visit and one equipment cost over the life of it (hence, one co-pay...read "cheap"), and you can "set it and forget it!" If you want another child, you just get the IUD taken out, and you are ready to go within a month. My wife and I have already decided that we will continue using an IUD as our form of birth control after we have our second child, since the big V is not as easily reversible if circumstances should change our lives in the future. Have your wife and yourself take a look at IUDs if you haven't already.
- Randy
iud
my wife is a health care provider and recommends the iud all the time. She says it as effective as the big v (99.9%). The vast majority of insurance companies cover it and it lasts...depending on the model 7-10 years. I'm with Randy, you might consider this as a less painful and permenant option.
IUD +1
Get up on an IUD... not to be confused with an IED. It's great. Psychologically, though, I'm imagining that I'm poking the thing. Cause I'm long. Might not want to get it if you normally pack magnums.
hate to burst your bubble
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but if you can feel your wife's iud it has nothing to do with you. She could return and get the strings cut as that is what you are feeling. Since the device is in her uterus and she is not dialated you aren't reaching the actually iud. Magnums have nothing to do with it but if it makes you feel better you can keep telling people that, I won't share your secret.
Operative Word
Imagining and Psychologically.
resurrecting the vasectomy discussion
because I set up my appt. today -- Feb. 27. I just read about it at WebMD and I don't look forward to it, but I think in the long run I'll be glad I did it.
Somebody please tell me it's gonna improve my sex life!
www.davebrigham.com
Let us know..
Let us know how it went. I'll admit to posting the original question. Just thinking today about whether or not I'm going to make the call.
I'm with JMP as well . . .
We've been thinking about it for a while. We've sweated out a couple of weeks two or three times after unprotected action and it was not fun (we'd love a third if it were to happen, but we are quite content w/ the two we have).
Keep us updated (and good luck!).
will let you know
you can expect a lengthy write-up some time after Feb. 27th.
www.davebrigham.com
What a first post!
I had my V in July 2006. Though I was apprehensive, I really didn't find it to be a big deal. I was pretty sore for a week though, and did not really exert myself for another. I enjoyed milking it a bit too. Getting the wife to help you collect the samples for testing later is fun too.
Don't know if it'll improve your sex life, but mine was definitely not harmed.
No big deal
I recommend it...although I agree you might have to do some convincing for the doctor (since you only have one). I had just had my third and my wife is a carrier for hemophelia..lucky that both boys were not positive. Third kid was an oops. A couple of important things: Take at least two days off...maybe three. Frozen peas are the best! Make sure you find a doctor who will do it as an office visit, like someone posted earlier ($30 copay). Many urologists are now doing it as an outpatient procedure in a "surgical center" to make more money out of the deal (I couldn't find a local doctor to do it as an office visit three years ago). The procedure is only a big deal if you make it a big deal. I talked sports with the doctor as he worked.
It has been the best for our sex life! When women worry they don't enjoy themselves as much. Don't have to worry about condoms...and you'll get brownie points for going through the trouble.
Five days later I was coaching my daughters softball team, which required me to coach-pitch some. A little pain but was more pissed off about the dads laughing at me...they new what I had done since they coached practice for me earlier in the week. I made them all buy me a beer after the game for busting my chops.
Status
How are you know? I had it done three months ago and still have dull pain and unable to really run without jock strap. My uro says I'm just a slow healer, but too many stories of long term pain. How do you exercisse? Play golf? Hike? Carry baby? without pain? Any suggestions would really help.
NOT YET! Your Young, Not Old!
Wait until your in your fifties, and she is to the point of not being able to have any more safely due to her age.
Been a while
Been a while since I've been out here, surprised to see this thread still kinda sorta alive. I had the procedure done last August and had no problems or regrets. CJW, it took me several months to feel "normal". I think that a lot of my pain was psychological-- everytime I think about the procedure even today I start to feel a little tender- but then again it hasn't stopped me from my exercise routine or the copious, carefree, amount of sexual activity I've learned to enjoy.