The repealing of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court of the United States takes away the basic right of personal. This legal decision affects the lives of women and men who are thinking about contraception, sexual health, and life plans. For example, we received the following message from a concerned individual shortly after the ruling was announced:
“Hi, after the Roe decision, I’m worried about my and my partner’s future health. I’m 23 and definitely don’t want kids for at least another 5-10 years. My girlfriend is very scared about rights around abortion/contraception being taken away and has asked me if I would get a vasectomy. I worry that even if I freeze sperm, what if I change my mind in the future and I regret it somehow?”
Since Roe was repealed, we’ve received hundreds of emails and phone calls asking this or similar questions. Should I get a vasectomy? If my partner loses access to abortion, does that leave me with the responsibility of birth control? What if I change my mind? Can I just reverse the vasectomy later? We want to help address some of these questions.
At face value, a vasectomy may seem like a reasonable path. After all, it’s a common procedure that’s been around for 100+ years and is relatively quick/painless. It is also less risky than permanent sterility procedure for women, tubal ligation. Bottom line: outside of abstinence, a vasectomy is the most reliable form of birth control.
But does this mean that you should schedule an appointment with DrSnip, or elsewhere, to get a vasectomy? That depends. There is no one, easy answer anyone can give you. Everyone’s situation is different. Here are two factors to consider.
Vasectomy and Reversal
It is false to categorize vasectomy as a form of temporary birth control. Strengths are weaknesses here. The effectiveness of vasectomy means that the procedure is not easily reversed. As many as 50% of men seeking a vasectomy reversal will not achieve a pregnancy. Vasectomy reversals are more invasive and costly and may not be covered by insurance. Men should not consider vasectomy as something to get done now and plan to have reversed later. Ideally, they should seek a vasectomy when they know they do not want to have more children biologically.
Sperm Freezing
Sperm banking, i.e., freezing sperm for later use, is another option to consider. However, while this process does offer the possibility of a future pregnancy, the storing and retrieving sperm (and the assisted fertility procedures of artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization) is not quick, easy, or guaranteed. Sperm freezing can be complicated and costly, with no certainty of results. Therefore, before they consider freezing sperm, men should do their research thoroughly. They may also want to talk to their primary care provider and the local sperm bank.
With the overturning of Roe v. Wade, fear and uncertainty surround the future of reproductive rights. Women and their partners worry about health care choices and personal rights. They may also worry about what their best options for family planning decisions. Pursuing vasectomy should be considered a permanent decision that could limit future family planning options.
We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions that can be found here. If you have more questions, talk to your doctor, or give us a call.
Shrikesh Majithia, CEO
DrSnip® | Simply VasectomySM
