A lot of men worry about the risks of getting a vasectomy. If you’re reading this you might be one of them. It’s only natural – the decision to get a vasectomy is not one to be taken lightly. You’ve probably spent hours googling things like “how long will I be out of work vasectomy” or “vasectomy pain” or “vasectomy recovery time” But have you ever considered the risks of not getting a vasectomy?
If you’re not planning on having another a child, and I mean really, really not planning to have a child, you have to ask whether the risks and possible consequences of using reversible forms of contraception outweigh the benefits of pregnancy. Hint: it doesn’t.
If we’re just talking about the man’s health, it’s better to just not get a vasectomy. But by not getting a vasectomy, you accept all the risks and burdens associated with pregnancy and childbirth, most of which are put on your partner’s shoulders.
“But what if I use other contraception?” Well, sure. But if you’re having any kind of sex, there is always an inherent risk. Yeah, condoms work. But maybe, one night you’ve had a little too much wine and suddenly not using condom seems like a better and better idea. With a vasectomy that’s not a problem.
Other birth control methods have their own problems. Hormonal birth control often results in adverse reactions, including abdominal discomfort, weight gain, menstrual irregularity, decreased libido, headaches, edema, vaginal dryness, rash, fatigue, dizziness, and many more that vary depending on the birth control. Not to mention the failure rate- Nuvaring has a 9% failure rate. The patch has an 8% failure rate with typical use. The shot? 5%. Birth control pills is 0.3% with perfect use, but because it’s so easy to forget it’s 8% in reality.
Now let’s say you decide to use contraception and it does fail. Here are the risks of surgical abortion:
– Infection of the womb: One in ten abortions
– Some of the pregnancy left in womb: one in twenty abortions
– Continuation of pregnancy: Less than 1% of abortions
– damage to cervix: one in one hundred abortions
– Excessive bleeding: one in one thousand abortions
That’s not including the emotional and psychological trauma of having an abortion.
Now, if you do decide to go through with having the baby, you’re putting a lot of risk on your partner. Pregnancy can result in:
– Hypertension: 6-8% of pregnancies
– Preeclampsia: 2-6% of pregnancies
– Ectopic pregnancy: 2% of pregnancies
– Miscarriage: 10-20% of pregnancies
– Gestational Diabetes: 2-10% of pregnancies
– Rupture of the uterus: 1-8% of pregnancies
– Severe vomiting: 20% of pregnancies
– Uterine rupture: Less than 1% of pregnancies
– Hyperthyroidism: 2.5% of pregnancies
None of these conditions are fun. Of course, then comes childbirth:
– Vaginal and perineal laceration: Majority of pregnancies
– Puerperal infection: 1-8% of pregnancies
– Fecal/Urinary incontinence: 28% of pregnancies
– Post partum depression: 10-20% of pregnancies
– Post partum hemorrhage: 18% of pregnancies
– Stretch marks
– Hemorrhoids
– Mastitis
– Clogged Ducts
– Kidney infections
And that’s not even the entire list. Then of course, if your pregnancy comes to term and you successfully have a child, you now have an entire human being to raise for the next two decades.
Or, you could just get a vasectomy.