To expect DH to get a vasectomy

[elderfloweriver]

We have two, nearly three children, a mix of boys and girls (if that's relevant) and no3 was unplanned.

We hit a rocky stage in our marriage and I asked him to leave for a bit. He did so. Now we are back together but I have to admit I didn't want 3 DCs.

I won't use hormonal contraception and so now our family is complete I feel DH should look into having a vasectomy - I just CAN'T have four children!

But I can't work out whether this is reasonable and fair or controlling?

What do you think?

[WorraLiberty]

Why don't you get sterilised?

[monkeysox]

I think yanbu but loads of posters on here will disagree. Why don't you get sterilisation?

[treaclesoda]

I don't think it is fair to expect him to, it is surgery after all, but it is certainly reasonable to ask him if he would consider it.

[Teabagbeforemilk]

Yabu to force him to have a procedure. Dh had one but we discussed it and he wanted to.

No way would I force it. Also they aren't 100% effective and sometimes they do join back together. Dh and I were both warned about it.

[pissedglitter]

Can't you get sterilised? I don't understand why it's only your husband who should get it done

[elderfloweriver]

I've thought about this Worra and my answer is: because it's a much bigger operation, because I've given birth three times and most key because it would render me useless for a few weeks and the children rely on me more than DH.

[elderfloweriver]

Lots of cross posts!

[Wailywailywaily]

Have you discussed this with him?
He has the right to refuse as it is him who will be undergoing the procedure. So you can't really demand it but it would be a good idea to have the conversation

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I agree with you OP, but most people won't. I think after decades of contraception being my responsibility, birth FGS, and the aftermath, DH can suck one up for the team. Luckily DH agrees.

[NomiMalone]

YANBU.

At all.

[Teabagbeforemilk]

But its not your decision to make. You make decisions about your own body. Not his

[scaevola]

YABU

Well, ish.

Yes, you should both look into all the options carefully.

By it's your body your choice and his body his choice.

The risks of vasectomy are routinely underestimated. NHS pages put the risk of the serious side effects (not just post op discomfort, but the granulomas, haemotomas, and untreatable PVPS) at 10%.

Have you looked into female sterilisation? You don't need a GA if you go for the newer Essure technique.

[Hestheone]

You can ask but not expect,I would hope my partner would do this willingly though if I'd gone through 3 labours/sections

[WinterOfOurDiscountTents15]

I don't think you have any right to tell him what to do with his body, and more than he has the right to control yours.
Plus if your relationship is rocky, he's got more to think about than just your opinion.

[AuntieStella]

"I agree with you OP, but most people won't. I think after decades of contraception being my responsibility, birth FGS, and the aftermath, DH can suck one up for the team."

OP isn't however asking about (reversible) contraception though. She is talking about permanent surgical removal of fertility. Something that neither of them has yet done for the other.

[WorraLiberty]

It's not always a much bigger operation though. Many women are in and out of hospital the same day.

Perhaps you could sit down and work out if he can take some time off?

This is of course assuming he doesn't want a vasectomy.

If he does, then even better.

[Teabagbeforemilk]

Oh and yes dh had a complication, bled quite a lot took about 4 days to be able to move about and 4 weeks before he could drive

[Lollypop27]

It's a hard one. I want to say yanbu but you can't force him to have a procedure he doesn't want.

[elderfloweriver]

It's the being cut open that's the killer Worra though, not the GA.

[backwardpossom]

YABU, OP. He has as much right to refuse to have it done as you do to refuse hormonal contraception...

[Hestheone]

I myself got sterilized when I had a section on Dd2,because I definitely didn't want to chance any more Dc

[WorraLiberty]

Speak to him then OP. You won't know until you do.

But if he doesn't want the operation, perhaps you should look into getting it done yourself, but obviously at a time when he can help out at home.

[Andrewofgg]

His body, his choice; I know that (assuming all goes well) it's less serious for him than for you but that's not his fault, it's just how the equipment eas designed.

Sorry, but YABU.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

OP isn't however asking about (reversible) contraception though. She is talking about permanent surgical removal of fertility. Something that neither of them has yet done for the other. There have been irreversible changes to my body caused by having our child. I'm not saying it's OK to force someone to have a procedure they don't want. I am saying that I would have thought less of my DH had he assumed, after years of me taking all the health implications of contraception, birth and BFing, I would be the one to have an operation (another one, because my CS wasn't a walk in the park).

[CatMilkMan]

I think it's unfair to push someone to get an optional operation that they don't want.