Vasectomy. There, I said it. If you are like most guys you are probably squirming around in your seat as you read this. If you are on the bus and people are starting to look at you funny, I’m sorry, you might want to come back and read this article later, because it’s all about vasectomies.

I’ve been thinking a lot about vasectomies recently, because in just a few days I will be having one. My wife and I made this decision shortly after the birth of our second son. We took the time to make sure it was the right choice for us, but after his second birthday, I picked up the phone and made the appointment.

Well, it wasn’t actually that easy. I had to get a referral from my family doctor, which I promptly lost. Then he gave me a second one, which I also lost. He was nice enough to give me yet another one, but he promised me that if I lost that one too, he would do the procedure himself, without anesthetic.

I didn’t lose the third one.

Frankly, I was more than a little nervous about it. Then again, most men are. We are talking about a surgical procedure on a delicate area, one that men learn to protect from a very young age.  But the reality is, it’s not that big a deal. A vasectomy is nothing to be afraid of.

So what exactly does the procedure entail? To begin with, you do not need to go to a hospital to get a vasectomy. A doctor can perform one in his or her office. You only need a local anesthetic, so you will even be awake for the event (although I imagine you might not want to watch it too closely. Unless they use one of those circus mirrors that makes everything look larger). The doctor will create two tiny incisions in the scrotum, and sever the vas deferens (the tubes that transport sperm). They will then clip or cauterize the ends of the tubes to minimize the risk of reattachment.  In a nutshell (ha!) that is all there is to it. There are even non-surgical methods that are proving to be quite effective. If you are particularly squeamish, this might be the route for you to go.

As simple as this operation is, you will have to make some short-term lifestyle changes. You will need some time to rest after you undergo the operation. Most people take Friday off to get the vasectomy, and can return to work on Monday. You might want to have some painkillers and cold packs on hand for the first day or so. You shouldn’t engage in any vigorous sporting activities for at least seven days, nor should you have sex.  Having the vasectomy does not mean that you are now automatically sperm free. It will take some time, and you should have a follow up test to ensure that you are in the clear.

A vasectomy is not the right decision for everyone. However, many people are resistant to even consider the possibility as there is still a great deal of fear around having one. I hope to be able to share with you my experiences as I go through this. It isn’t something to fear, and it is one of the most effective forms of birth control available. If you and your wife have the ideal family, it might be something to consider.

Photo by spud murphy

Drew Beatty is a father, podcaster and writer. He is also known to use Twitter.  Soon he will be unable to reproduce, but he is okay with that.
Stay tuned for followup posts on this touchy but important subject matter.