Risks or downsides to DH getting the big "V"?

[Hedgehog Mtn]

I'm looking for risks and downside to DH getting cut.

We are 6 weeks away from #6 and we know we are done. I can't take hormonal bc at all and I think it would be nice to have a more permanent solution.

I'm not concerned (nor is he) about the short term recovery.....he is totally willing to go through it and figures I went through all the births after all I'm worried about long term issues.

I'm wondering what risks there are. I don't know what other options would work for us but I'm worried about the risks for him.

Thanks

[2xy]

Originally Posted by Hedgehog Mtn 

I'm wondering what risks there are. I don't know what other options would work for us but I'm worried about the risks for him.
 

The nerves in the scrotal area run up through the abdomen, and recurrent abdominal pain can sometimes go on for months after a vasectomy.

I know there are other risks, but that is the only one I am personally familiar with. I don't know how common it is, but it happened to my ex-H when he had the procedure.

[brichole1214]

My twin brother had it done almost 2 years ago and he's not had any problems out of his.  He was 25 when he had it done though (he already had 3 kids by then) and he said it's the best thing he's done for himself and his wife! (they were able to look at each other the right way and get pregnant) I hope all goes well and congrats on the new bundle that will be here before you know it :) 

[RoseRedHoofbeats]

My husband had a really hard time ejaculating after his vasectomy, through any means possible. It got a lot better when the vas was reversed. This isn't a well-documented side effect and appears to be very rare, however.

~Rose

[mamaw/two]

I thought I'd bump this up as I have been wondering the same thing as OP.  My dh wants to get one after this baby (#5), I really don't want him to as well as being concerned about long term effects.  My brother in law got one a yr ago and has lost quite a bit of libido in the last few monthes according to my sister, I have read that some men get lower testosterone after the vasectomy, also read that there can be a higher risk of prostrate cancer, as well ED after a number of years, and that some men get testicular pain within 5 yrs after the procedure.  Then I read that lots of men have no problems.

[3 little birds]

I read that since the sperm don't leave the body, they can create an immune response-constantly having the immune system fighting the DNA in the sperm.  I am unaware if this is true.  I just had #6 and vasectomy would be an easy fix, but something doesn't feel right about it for us.  I would worry about the rare chance of failure as well.  My aunt got pregnant after my uncle's vas.  When he was tested, it turned out some spermies were getting through years after the procedure.

[Subhuti]

We researched it and the issues these ladies describe, pain, auto-immune response, made us decide it was not an option.  It would be wonderful if it were risk free.  My husband offered to do it, but the risks compounded with the fact that he is a survivor of abuse, made it not a good idea.  His doctor even recommended against it given his history.

[Hedgehog Mtn]

Originally Posted by Subhuti 

We researched it and the issues these ladies describe, pain, auto-immune response, made us decide it was not an option.  It would be wonderful if it were risk free.  My husband offered to do it, but the risks compounded with the fact that he is a survivor of abuse, made it not a good idea.  His doctor even recommended against it given his history.

Do you mind if I ask what method you are using instead?

I feel like the only answer will be NFP lol but it scares me to think of what would happen if I make a mistake or we mess up or whatever.

[Subhuti]

NFP ... you're right, that's what we do.

And yes, I am scared what would happen if there is an error. But we successfully used it for over a year before we were ready to have kids. I'm pretty careful, overly cautious.

It depends if you are the charty, detail oriented person who has a lot of self control (doesn't say, oh, I'll just take a chance this one time...) ..... that kind of person should do fine on NFP. But if you are a more artistic, holistic or vague or impulsive person ... no, I wouldn't recommend it. That's my take.

GL!

[momtomine]

well my husband had it done in July of 09, and he has not had any side effects. it really did open our sex life up again, because we have felt so free to be together, without the thought of having another baby. that said, i am 90% sure that i am pregnant right now! shocking isnt it? almost two years with no issues, and i am feeling very pregnant, and Saturday when my period was due, i spotted for a day, then nothing! i will be testing this weekend to be sure.

[strawberryprincess]

I know someone who said he had lingering pain for several months after the procedure.  I also know lots of other couples who have had this done, and haven't had any problems (or at least not told me about it)  I have heard that spontaneous reversal, or whatever it is officially called, is fairly common, and can happen many years later, but don't know anyone to whom this has happened.

NFP is not an option for me, I get pregnant way to easily and I would be scared to death to DTD--ever!!  i can't tolerate hormonal b/c anymore, and abstinence isn't really an option either :)  So, having one of us "sterilized" is our best choice...I need to do more research on this issue, for sure, before we take the plunge, so to speak.  I am expecting my fourth in sept, so i have a little time to read more.  This pregnancy was an unplanned "oops" because I thought I was safe still nursing ds so much, and my cycles were nowhere near regular.  This is why NFP is not for me.

[GoBecGo]

My main issue would be if you died and he met someone else who wanted a baby what would he do?

I know that's not the sort of thing people like to think of, but i think of it. If i die and DP finds some amazing wonderful woman who wants to lovingly raise my kids with him i really don't want her to hoof it because the one thing she feels she needs, a baby of her own, isn't a possibility.

Or say in 25 years one of your sons comes and says he is totally sterile and he and his partner are desperate to have a baby and asks his father to be a donor - ok that might not be something your DH would do anyway, but would he want it to be an option?

We personally, because we don't like the idea of "never" or "forever" on this issue, would never consider it. Luckily the IUD seems to work fine for us, both the mirena which i had before DD2 and the copper one i have now.

[HollyRhea]

We were planning on having it done sometime this year.  But a good friend showed me this:  http://men.webmd.com/news/20070222/study-suggests-vasectomy-dementia-link

We also have a holistic dentist who spoke candidly to me about the research she's done - citing the auto-immune issue.  I'm too freaked out now.  I don't know what we're going to do, but this isn't it for us.

[tallulahma]

i was desperately hoping i would open tis thread and it would be full of "no problems! best thing ever!"

ugh, back to the NFP plan.

i am soooooo done.... and we are sooooooo fertile...

Originally Posted by HollyRhea 
 

We were planning on having it done sometime this year.  But a good friend showed me this:  http://men.webmd.com/news/20070222/study-suggests-vasectomy-dementia-link

We also have a holistic dentist who spoke candidly to me about the research she's done - citing the auto-immune issue.  I'm too freaked out now.  I don't know what we're going to do, but this isn't it for us.

[Subhuti]

I do have a friend who had it done and he had some pain for two years.  But I don't think he regrets doing it.  But I think it can sometimes be pain around ejaculation.  :(

[MJB]

My husband got a vasectomy last May and the only negative was a couple days of soreness. He's like a vasectomy evangelist now to everyone we know! It's so cool to never have to worry about birth control again. It hasn't affected his functioning at all and he's in fantastic health. The risk of complications is super low and the procedure is mch easier and safer than tubal ligation. I dropped my husband off at the doctor, hung out at a bookstore for an hour, picked him up, and then we went out to lunch. He had to wear an ice pack in his undies for a day. 

[mt_gooseberry]

I read once in a medical journal while taking a genetics class in college that a man's risk for prostate cancer can increase up to 80% after a vasectomy.  Unfortunately I don't remember what journal I read it in and I can't find it now.  

[Jaimee]

Great thread!  I was trolling around trying to figure out where to make this exact post!  So, we are pregnant with #3 (an oops!) and that has clarified my previously unclear ideas about how many children I would like to have.  This is it!  So now we have to face the fact that FAM has not been working for us as birth control as #2 was an oops as well.  I'm great at charting, but apparently dh and I are even better at getting pregnant when it's not very likely.  So he wants to get a vasectomy.  I was against it b/c I didn't know all the risks involved and I wasn't sure about more kids, etc.  Now it's just about the risks and dh is being a bit flippant about it.  His dad got one and hasn't had any issues so he figures it's no big deal.  But I'm passing along all the information posted above so he can start looking into these risks.

So, for those of you that opted not to get a vasectomy, what form of birth control do you use?  I'm against hormonal birth control and I have read WAY too many stories about misplaced IUD's.  There are two IUD pregnancies in my November DDC alone!  So what's left?  Condoms and contraceptive film?  Everything else seems to have questionable effectiveness. 

[GoBecGo]

We use an IUD.  I know that's not what you're asking for, it's just that the millions of women like me for whom the IUD works well, doesn't displace, and is basically trouble free tend not to post about it, so you never read our stories.  I would consider trying the IUD, you can continue to use condoms for the first few months (when displacement is most likely) and see how you go...?
 

Originally Posted by Jaimee 

Great thread!  I was trolling around trying to figure out where to make this exact post!  So, we are pregnant with #3 (an oops!) and that has clarified my previously unclear ideas about how many children I would like to have.  This is it!  So now we have to face the fact that FAM has not been working for us as birth control as #2 was an oops as well.  I'm great at charting, but apparently dh and I are even better at getting pregnant when it's not very likely.  So he wants to get a vasectomy.  I was against it b/c I didn't know all the risks involved and I wasn't sure about more kids, etc.  Now it's just about the risks and dh is being a bit flippant about it.  His dad got one and hasn't had any issues so he figures it's no big deal.  But I'm passing along all the information posted above so he can start looking into these risks.

So, for those of you that opted not to get a vasectomy, what form of birth control do you use?  I'm against hormonal birth control and I have read WAY too many stories about misplaced IUD's.  There are two IUD pregnancies in my November DDC alone!  So what's left?  Condoms and contraceptive film?  Everything else seems to have questionable effectiveness.