Reasons for Considering Vasectomy

You May Wish to Consider Vasectomy If:

• You want to enjoy having sex without causing pregnancy.
• You don't want to have a child biologically in the future.
• Your partner agrees that your family is complete, and no more children are wanted.
• You and your partner have concerns about the side effects of other methods.
• Other methods are unacceptable.
• Your partner's health would be threatened by a future pregnancy.
• You don't want to pass on a hereditary illness or disability.
• You want to spare your partner the surgery and expense of tubal sterilization - sterilization for women is more complicated and costly.

Do Not Consider Vasectomy If:

• You want to have a child biologically in the future.
• You are being pressured by your partner, friends, or family -- you must want the operation.
• You have marriage or sexual problems, short-term mental or physical illnesses, financial worries, or you are out of work -- vasectomy is not a good solution for temporary problems.
• You have not considered possible changes in your life, such as divorce, remarriage, or death of children.
• You have not discussed it fully with your partner.
• You plan to bank sperm in case you change your mind - sperm barks collect, freeze, and thaw sperm for alternative insemination. However, some men's sperm does not survive freezing. And after six months, frozen sperm may begin to lose the ability to fertilize.

Other Options

Consider all other methods before you choose vasectomy. The pill, the patch, the ring, the shot, and IUDS are more than 97 percent effective, Most women can use them ' with little risk of serious complications, Other methods that have little or no side effects are condoms, female condoms, diaphragms, caps, shields, periodic abstinence, and contraceptive foams, jellies, and suppositories.

Your partner also may want to consider sterilization. There are new sterilization procedures for women that reduce the cost, recovery time, and risks of the procedure, But vasectomy is simpler, costs less, and has fewer risks. In all cases, the results must be considered permanent. So, think carefully about what sterilization will mean for both of you - and your futures.

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