A vasectomy is a very common procedure, which around 500,000 men in the US choose every year. It is a minor surgical procedure performed under local anesthetic, with a short recovery time and very few potential complications. Long term, a vasectomy is the most reliable form of birth control there is (excluding sexual abstinence), and the cost of the procedure can end up being significantly less than the accumulated cost of other forms of birth control over time.
If you have been considering a vasectomy, here we look at what you can expect, and whether it is the right thing for your situation:
Who Are the Best Candidates for Vasectomy?
A vasectomy should be viewed as a permanent form of birth control. While it is possible to have a vasectomy reversed if you change your mind later on, this can be both complicated and costly, so you should consider other methods of birth control if you think you are likely to want to be able to get a woman pregnant in the future.
Vasectomies also offer no protection against STIs, so are not as good an option as condoms if this is a concern for you.
The best candidates therefore are men in long term relationships who have decided with their partners that they don’t want any risk of future pregnancy. Men of all different ages make this choice, and these include men who already have children and men who don’t want children at all.
When Is a Vasectomy the Best Choice of Birth Control?
There are several things that make a vasectomy a better option for couples who don’t want to worry about pregnancy than other forms of birth control.
Firstly, if you are looking for permanent birth control, a vasectomy is less invasive, less costly, and has a far shorter recovery time than a tubal ligation for a woman. Additional, it can be reversed, though as we’ve said, you should not go into your vasectomy seeing it as a temporary option.
A vasectomy is also far more convenient and also reliable than things like birth control pills, injections and implants, and offers obvious benefits to those who prefer not to use condoms.
Do bear in mind, however, that it takes around three months for the vasectomy to properly take effect, due to residual sperm that can still make it into the semen for this time. While you can start having sex again after your procedure as soon as you feel comfortable (usually within a week), you need to continue using another form of birth control for this period.
If you think a vasectomy is the right choice for you and your partner, then there is no reason not to go ahead! Book an appointment right away at 212-675-3186, and we can talk through the procedure in more detail and get you ready for permanent, hassle free birth control.