Gettin Snipped

[togitc]

I am seriously considering getting a vasectomy. Now I don't know if I spelled that correctly, but I need some info here.

Anyone here got snipped? Helpful hints, words of wisdom, or thoughts that are slightly on subject but not really are welcome.

I'm a bit nervous. I mean getting surgery on my happy-place is just nerve wracking, then add in the fact that I am purposely making myself sterile, I don't know. It sounds stupid, but it just makes me feel so useless.

I have two wonderful daughters and I don't want anything more. But what about the future? What if in a few years I decide that another little one would be a good idea? Reversing the surgery only has 50% effectiveness.

Help.

 

[cantdog]

Since no one has answered, I will. Yes, I have. It was no big deal, physically. You can certainly screw yourself completely up emotionally if you aren't careful. If you really have basic, serious reservations, for heaven's sake, don't. If you basically feel it's a good idea, then do.

Sure, if you live long enough, a time may come when it would have been better to have remained capable. It's an issue no one can address but you. Be at least sure enough to be able to live with it, or don't do it.

 

[hugo_sam]

I am seriously considering getting a vasectomy. Now I don't know if I spelled that correctly, but I need some info here.

Anyone here got snipped? Helpful hints, words of wisdom, or thoughts that are slightly on subject but not really are welcome.

I'm a bit nervous. I mean getting surgery on my happy-place is just nerve wracking, then add in the fact that I am purposely making myself sterile, I don't know. It sounds stupid, but it just makes me feel so useless.

I have two wonderful daughters and I don't want anything more. But what about the future? What if in a few years I decide that another little one would be a good idea? Reversing the surgery only has 50% effectiveness.

Help.

Touchy subject Tog!

First and formost be sure. Most Doctors will tell you that you should consider it a permanant surgury.'
next: pain can vary. My old Chief of Firing Battery said he had just very minor discomfort for a couple of hours and resumed his regular life the next day. Mine was a little more painful, but primarily on serious physical exertion (we still ran about 5 miles a day then). After about a week everything was back to normal. I have heard that some have severe pain but it is rare.
I have certainly never regretted mine. Of course I get to enjoy the benefits very seldom, but it has nothing to do with the surgury.
Just be sure. Mine was in '89 or so.

hope this helps
hugo

 

[togitc]

The choice boils down to this:
Get it or don't have sex.

My youngest was born even after condoms, birthcontrol, and the day-after pill. If I look at my wife cross-eyed we have to buy a pregnancy test.

So can I become a monk or get the snip?

How long did it take to heal?

 

[togitc]

Touchy subject Tog!

First and formost be sure. Most Doctors will tell you that you should consider it a permanant surgury.'
next: pain can vary. My old Chief of Firing Battery said he had just very minor discomfort for a couple of hours and resumed his regular life the next day. Mine was a little more painful, but primarily on serious physical exertion (we still ran about 5 miles a day then). After about a week everything was back to normal. I have heard that some have severe pain but it is rare.
I have certainly never regretted mine. Of course I get to enjoy the benefits very seldom, but it has nothing to do with the surgury.
Just be sure. Mine was in '89 or so.

hope this helps
hugo

Touchy indeed.

I have had three consultations and rescheduled each time. I would like to think that it was purely due to the outside influences, but now I see I wasn't sure about it myself.

1989, damn and only a week down.

Hugo, you always help. Like that time in the desert when I forgot the shovel... ah, good times.

 

[cantdog]

Healed quick, really. No difficulty at all. The hair took longer to grow in.

 

[Huckleman2000]

If in doubt, and you can afford it, you may want to just freeze some sperm. I have no idea how much it costs, but it does afford some peace of mind if you think you'd ever want to reproduce again.

 

[mack_the_knife]

I've been snipped. They give you really good dope for the procedure.

You'll be a bit tender for a day or three after, but it's not like in the old days, where they would swell to the size of grapefruit or anything, they get a little black and blue around the incision, is all, no real swelling that I noted.

I've not noticed either an increase or decrease in sex drive, though we don't have to worry about undesired pregnancy, which has led to a slight uptake in actual activity.

She reports it tastes the same.

For those smartasses among you that are happy I won't be reproducing, too late!

 

[English Lady]

Nothing to add, but I just though you could do with a *hug* togitc!
I'll leave the gentlemen to giving you the proper advice

 

[Boxlicker101]

I was snipped over twenty years ago. The surgery is simple and basically painless. It was done late in the afternoon and I kept an icebag on my scrotum for the rest of the day and there was no pain to speak of. I resumed normal activities the next day. I have no regrets about having had it done but if you have doubts, maybe you shouldn't.

 

[impressive]

She reports it tastes the same.

Ah. I wondered about that.

Good luck to you, togitc ... regardless of your decision.

 

[oggbashan]

Think long and hard

The procedure itself is fairly simple and the recovery time is short.

Reversing it is not so simple and the recovery time can be longer, more painful and may not work the first time, the second time or at all.

The psychological effects can be severe and long lasting if you had doubts beforehand and/or your life situation changes.

It is something you need to be sure about before committing yourself.

However it is a much simpler procedure than the alternative for a woman.

I would recommend thinking about it for at least three months before coming to a final decision.

I had no problems with the operation 20+ years ago or the after effects. It was done as an outpatient. I left the hospital one hour after the surgery. I had no doubts before or after.

Two friends who had operations about the same time regretted it. Both had divorces some years after the operation and those divorces may have contributed to their depression. One tried to have it reversed and the procedure was unsuccessful. The other did not try but the woman he wanted to marry eventually rejected him because he couldn't provide the children she decided she wanted.

It is something that MUST be discussed with your partner. One local man had the operation without telling his partner because he didn't want children and she did. He lied to the surgeon about his partner's agreement and forged her signature on the consent form. She left him after smashing up their flat. I can understand her anger.

Og

 

[Guest]

im a whizz with an exacto. i swear it wont hurt overly much. just lie back and try to relax...

worrying about not having any more children afterwards is pretty much negated in these times. you still produce sperm even if it doesnt make it down the ole shaft. it can be harvested if need be.
as far as the pain...i wouldnt know, obviously but the many patients ive had who had the procedure are usually just a wee bit sore as stated by those who responded so far. yes, there can be complications. but you know your feelings better than anyone...and if you have super sperm...this might be a very good descision rather than monk hood...that being said, there is still a possiblity that the SO could become pregnant even with you having a vasectomy. hoping youll consider the both of you doing something to prevent this if the desire to procreate is no longer there.

i wish you the best.
v~

 

[oggbashan]

Restraint

One thing I forgot to add. My excuse is that it was 20+ years ago.

You can have the operation and it CAN be unsuccessful. You have to give at least three samples over a period of months after the operation so that the laboratory can check that no sperm are getting through. Only then are you reasonably sure that you are infertile.

BUT sometimes the vas can reconnect itself. That is statistically rare but does happen. Your partner might have an unplanned pregnancy and it won't necessarily be the milkman's fault.

Og

 

[TxRad]

I had mine done 25 years ago... I had a son by my first wife and a daughter and son by the second. Our relationship was stable and neither of us want any more kids. She got fixed a day after our son was born and i got fixed a few days later. It was outpatient surgery and I had no problems whatsoever. I had it done on Friday and was back at work on Monday. Both of us being fixed was our "Double Indemnity Insurance Policy."

The mental side of it never was a question in my case but like has been said before, if you're not sure, don't get in any hurry. If you have all the kids you want then there shouldn't be any problem. if your relationship is strong then there is no problem. Is there a reason she hasn't gotten fixed? This is a decission that both of you need to discuss completely.

 

[Guest]

My husband had his vasectomy three years ago.

We have two children, one of each flavor, we've been married for a long time, our relationship is certainly a keeper. So - good decision for us.

It took a little more than an hour, start to finish. My husband shaved the area himself before the procedure. He was given two shots to numb everything (with tiny needles in the jewels, he says).

They make two small incisions - not even half an inch - then the doc goes in and clips. Hubby says you can hear it, but you do not feel a thing. They remove a piece of the tube before sewing or cauterizing to ensure things won't grow back together, which can sometimes happen, we were warned.

(Every so often if I'm late I'll look at my husband cross-eyed and say, "I'm going to bitch slap that Doctor if you are shooting live rounds, pal.")

He says there were two days of tenderness, and the stitches felt odd, and I remember there was a worry of post-op infection. Hubby was only one day on the couch and only needed ibuprofen for the pain.

The doctor was very funny when he was explaining to both of us about what would happen after the procedure. I can't remember how many ejaculations but there is a specific number they want you to have before they'll check a sample for no presence of sperm. So I asked the doctor, "You mean we need to clear the lines?" "Yep," he said.

Once he got through the tenderness we began the line clearing process (which he helped on his own, of course). It was fun to get the news that his sample was clear and we could have sex whenever, wherever, whatever.

For the woman - complete release of worry. There is no difference in his ejaculations that we can tell. Certainly no loss of manhood. This has improved the quality of our lives.



TX - one small aside after I read your post. The procedure for women is more difficult, more invasive, more dangerous.

 

[rgraham666]

Don't need to worry about it.

I rely on my personality.

 

[Guest]

 

[rgraham666]

*smack*



Do not speak slightingly of my friends, Rob.

Don't make me hurt you.

No ? My reaction

 

[Guest]

 

[lil_elvis]

My experience. The procedure was painless and done with local anethstetic, although a little weird when the vas was cauterized - something disconcerting about that smoking sizzle so close to ....

Recovery was about a week.

Clearing the pipes, as per sarahh was also part of the whole process and she's right that it's great to have no interruptus moments to deal with birth control.

I've got 3 kids and was totally certain that I didn't want more. I can't even contemplate collecting social security before a kid graduates high school. Now THAT's scary.

 

[cloudy]

The procedure for women is more difficult, more invasive, more dangerous

God, yes!

I got "fixed" the day after I had my last one. Having my third child was a breeze. I felt like I'd been beaten severely with a baseball bat after the surgery.

 

[SeaCat]

Sorry can't help you. Mine was done by accident with radiation. (My balls still glow in the dark, I don't need a light to pee at night.) I'm thinking about the cuts being done though because I don't trust what the docs told me, just waiting for my med insurance to pay for it.

Cat

 

[JRaven]

For me to get my tubes tied after the birth of our last was going to cost more, require another day in the hospital, and from what I'd heard, cause me a lot of pain. My husband (bless his heart), decided that it would be best for him to get snipped.

We followed the advice of a few of his friends and everything worked out well.
His was done 14 years ago. He said that the most embarrassing part of it was the great looking nurse that placed the towels around his genitals. And the fact that he was so nervous, that even as she lifted his nuts to put a towel under then, he couldn't even think about getting hard. They used a local anesthetic. My husband doesn't have an effect on alot of them. The doctor didn't believe him until he catarized the little tubes. He jumped evertime the doc zapped. But don't worry, my husband is weird.

To speed healing and minimize pain, don't move after getting home. Lie down on the sofa. Have the wife serve your every need. Except for sex, none of that! The only time my husband got off the sofa was to pee. I kept a bag of ice under his balls for the first few hours. He even slept on the sofa. By morning, he was ready to get off his ass and do something. Even did a few jumping jacks just to show me he was fine.

I've heard stories about people having their sperm frozen. Even to the point that once frozen in the lab, they took the vials home and kept them in their freezer. I"m not sure how much to believe that. But if it's been done, no doubt there's someone on Lit that has theirs in the freezer. Another avenue would be to have a sperm bank store your own sperm for your own private use.

A lot of advice that's already been given. But at least now you've heard if from two different sources.

Jenny

 

[bholderman]

My thoughts are virtually a repeat of the above, but since it is a fairly big decision, I thought I would throw my 2 cents in.

My wife an I had 3 daughters in 3 years (even using protection). After hearing the description of "tube-tying," I took the plunge. After 3 kids, I felt my wife had had enough abdominal discomfort.

The procedure was quick and painless, I was out within 20 minutes if I remember correctly. Mine was cauterized like someone mentioned above. An icepack and tylenol seemed to deal with the pain.

My personal story continues with the fact that I was working as a bouncer at a local bar. The next night sure enough, 3 people in the bar, completely dead. Two of these guys, best friends. Next thing you know their fists are flying at each other, knocking tables over, etc. I reached down to pull them off of each other, and out shot someones foot right into the touchy spot. Luckily it didnt land square, but the momentary shock of the timing (fights are rare at this place) put me in my place, my boss had offered to let me have the night off.

Good lick with the decision, hoped this helped at bit.