Family Complete - It's Time to Consider a Vasectomy

Having a family definitely changes everything. Instead of just being focused on yourself and your own goals, you suddenly have other people that are counting on you. If you and your spouse have finished your family, it might be time to start considering permanent options of closing the doors on further fertility. This doesn't mean that you suddenly dislike children or that you're tired of them. Quite the contrary -- usually a couple is very comfortable with their life after they make the decision to stop having more children. There are really only two permanent options: tubal ligation for the woman, and a vasectomy for the man.The trouble with tubal ligation for women is that not only is it permanent, but it's very invasive compared to the vasectomy. While both are classified as outpatient procedures, the tubal ligation generally requires general anesthesia and a longer recovery time. A man facing vasectomy has local anesthesia and a shorter recovery window to deal with. If you're concerned about health risks on the woman's side of things, a vasectomy just makes sense. The risks are lower, and the failure rate is just as good. The highest chance of failure is within two months after the procedure has taken place.Keep in mind that while a woman is rendered infertile immediately after a tubal ligation, a man is not. It can actually take up to three months after the procedure to be fully cleared of sperm. Until then, there is still a chance that there could be sperm left in the tubes and conception to occur.


Taking charge of family planning by pursuing permanent sterilization isn't for everyone. Given the permanent nature of the vasectomy procedure, this is a step to be taken only after you've decided that your family is truly complete. It's not enough just to be satisfied with the life that you have now. Since you're closing the door on your fertility, you have to also think about potential "what if" situations. For example, what if your current spouse dies and you were to meet someone new later down the line? Would you still be okay with the current number of children that you have? It's little things like that which need to be kept in mind. You may feel okay with closing the proverbial door now, but will you regret the decision later on? This is very much a series of questions that need to be asked when you're relatively young, as the chance of wanting children later down the road again are quite high. If you're in a relationship that isn't serving your needs currently, closing the door on your fertility may be something that you would be better off avoiding. As always, it's completely up to you. If you are ready to schedule a vasectomy consultation, there are plenty of quality clinics available to meet your needs. The doctor can follow up with you and ask further questions, while also answering any questions that you may have. Good luck!