A few months ago I was snipped and sterilized. That’s right—I got a vasectomy.
After the dust settled of having identical twin boys, my wife and I decided that we were done having children.
Before meeting with my doctor to prepare for the procedure, I conducted my own research via the internet. After a few quick google searches, I realized that although legitimate websites like WebMD and the Mayo Clinic provided a great overview of the procedure, I felt like there wasn’t any “real talk” around this topic. Unlike my wife, who can find a blog article, Facebook group, Instagram influencer, or Pinterest board to answer her motherhood questions, offer her a parenting support, or give her a list of highly recommended OBGYN’s with individual reviews, I was left in the dark. This topic was not talked about causally around the office, (my wife could tell you every co-workers delivery story), and testimonials were not widely published on the internet (don’t believe me? Google “tubes tied+blog”).
Are vasectomies taboo?
Is this topic off limits because our society promotes hyper-masculinity?
With very few stories or anecdotal information online, I decided to dive into the data. While researching, I discovered some disappointing statistics and maybe part of the reason why there isn’t much information to be found online.
A Look at the Facts
- According to a 2016 article by the Brookings Institution, men aren’t stepping up to do their part in the family planning area. The article shares that although sterilization is the “second most common form of contraception in the United States”, there are significant differences in sterilization rates between men and women.
- According to a 2015 report by the United Nations, sterilization rates in the United States show that about twice as many women (22%) have been sterilized compared to men (11%).
Analyzing the Facts
- According to the New York Times, vasectomies are a slightly more effective form of permanent birth control than female sterilization (tubal ligation).
- Vasectomies tend to be cheaper than tubal ligation (around $1,000 compared to $6,000).
- Vasectomies are also consider safer procedures to administer than tubal ligation since they tend to be an in office procedure that only requires local anesthesia.
Celebrity Endorsements
- Actor Dax Shephard often shares that he had a vasectomy after a pregnancy scare with his wife back in 2016.
- The Youtube stars Rhett and Link shared their “brosectomy” story online. This video and the follow up video have over 5 million views.
- Additionally, VH1 published an article in 2016 of 8 celebrities who had the procedure done.
Share Your Story
Men don’t talk about this important topic enough. Once I started to share my story with friends and family members, people were quick to give pointers and discuss their own procedure. My personal vasectomy story, much like others, is pretty straightforward. I went to one appointment and met with my doctor who examined me and then explained the procedure. I returned to the office weeks later for the procedure. The procedure took about an hour and a half and involved a local anesthetic. The procedure was a little painful and felt like I had gotten kicked a few times between my legs, but overall the process was relatively uneventful. After spending a three day weekend taking it easy with some ibuprofen, a lot of ice, and wearing some “tighty whities”, I felt mostly back to normal on Monday. I will have to return to the doctor in a couple months for a fertility test to ensure that I am sterile, but besides that my life is mostly unchanged.