The Snip

[TordelBack]

No, not a sequel to the Spurrier/Elson hymn to motherhood that was The Scrap, but instead possibly the oddest request yet for the Hivemind:

Any of you gents had a vasectomy?

With a second sprog imminent, I'm satisfied that I've contaminated the human gene pool quite sufficiently, and think it's about time I took over responsibility for keeping my swimmers in check.  The internet is predictably terrifying, a quick survey of my male friends reveals no jaffas, so I turn to you, the hivemind for life-changing anecdotes. Pros?  Cons?  Horrid tales of woe?

[JOE SOAP]

Ain't there an increased risk of testicular cancer? That alone would be enough for me to totally reject it, plus the fact if you ever, God forbid, lose or leave your wife in the future and wish to start another family, you'd have to get it reversed which I'm not sure is that easy.

[House of Usher]

Hmm. I'd say start using condoms. A lot less messy, and thus will spare you the 'wet patch' and your carpet many a drip and the odd crusty spot, quite apart from the health benefits of using a barrier methods even within a monogamous relationship.

[The Cosh]

I have never had it, but a chap I used to work with did. The would subsequently became infected and he was back in hospital, spurting pus, for a week.

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Two kids and no intention of it.

At the risk of being all 30 something, if you want reliable contraception and have one partner then she should get a coil. The NHS say so. They say it is as effective as preventing pregnancy as (female) sterilisation but it is easily reversed, in minutes, with no surgery either way.

[SmallBlueThing]

This thread seems to be more along the lines of "let's frighten you into not having it"- and I see no reason to stop now!

Last night I was talking to a guy who's third child was conceived AFTER his vasectomy. Oh, and my friend had his- and although it's done under local anaesthetic, he still FELT him "cut the tubes"...

I'd agree with what Dr X said about the coil. I nearly wrote "the cosh" there- which, as contraceptives go, may or may not be as effective.  

Steev

[worldshown]

In a tale frighteningly similar to SpookySteev's, my best friend had the snip about a month ago. The first tube, no problem. The second, well, after three additional doses of anaesthetic he still felt the cut and was in pain for several days afterwards.

He's fine now though.

[TordelBack]

Hmmm.

[COMMANDO FORCES]

I would do what feels best for yourself.

As for the Jaffa stuff, that'll be the macho side of us vain males and not wanting to say they had had the snip for fear of being ridiculed by their friends and workmates.

One of the blokes at work had it done and he was back at work the next day and that was all that was said on the subject and that is my only contact with this.

As for feeling it happen, my mother-in-law was in the NHS and she said people think they can feel the cutting in certain ops because they can feel other parts of their bodies being touched by the surgeon/doctor and because of the numbness, drowsiness and their vivid mind they just imagine what they want to imagine.

Anyway just think you might have a man hating female doing the chop and when you look up she'll show you a massive meat cleaver and then do a maniacal laugh

[Old Tankie]

I would never consider having "The Snip" but not for any of the reasons mentioned beforehand although they're all valid.  My reasons would be more to do with the fact that life is totally unpredictable and terrible disasters can befall any of us.  The loss of a wife, either through divorce or illness, and the forming of a new relationship in which the new partner would want children.  The death of a child could completely change your thoughts about having more children.  Whilst all this is terribly depressing, it can happen (it's happened to a very close friend of mine).

You probably didn't want to hear this, but you did ask.

[TordelBack]

Indeed I did ask, and many thanks for the responses.  Must say, the almost-universal negativity here and in more passive internet searches came as quite a revelation.  Oddly, I've only met two blokes over the years who (admitted to having) had vasectomies both had horror stories - one of persistent pain, one of an unwanted pregnancy.  I thought I might see a more balanced set of anecdotes once I started looking, but not really.  My motivation is to contribute in some way to the contraception project, having run the full gamut of options over the years and found the whole business hideously tiresome, condoms in particular being a monumental drag (very un-PC, I know).  I confess I hadn't thought of the coil (seems very 70's),  but TBH I wanted to spare my partner yet more interference with her nethers, after decades of pills and other unmentionables, and now a clutch of babies...  I'll keep researching for a while, because clearly someone is seeing the upside:  apparently more than 15% of American men over 35 have had this op, and if I was to go on a public waiting list here by the time I got done I'd probably need Viagra to produce the necessary samples.

[House of Usher]

condoms in particular being a monumental drag

Au contraire! They actually reduce friction (drag), thereby making things more comfortable for the laydee.  8-)

[Richmond Clements]

In may day, you could get your condoms free at the Family Planning Clinic- do they still do that?

[King Trout]

You could stop giving in to the pleasures of the flesh, and occupy yourself with cold showers and educational reading.


I know a guy who's had the snip and he's totally fine with it. It was painful for a few days and he's had a bit of a slagging, but it was the right solution for him.

Tordel, have you had a chat with your doctor? Might be a better idea than asking a bunch of comics fans.

All the best with whatever you decide, you old shagger!

- Trout

[The Enigmatic Dr X]

Trout, you're hardly placed to give advice. You should be tying a knot in it.