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Original poster

NHS vasectomy?

41 replies

PlaymobilPirate · 10/02/2019 23:09

Dp and I were talking about him getting the snip. It's not something hes desperately keen on but will do it. He reckons it's hard to get doctors to agree to them nowadays though.

Circumstances:
Hes 48, I'm 40
We have 1 ds age 7
We definitely don't want more and neither of us would want more should we split up
Currently using withdrawal method (I know, i know... more dps choice than mine)

Is he right about doctors?

OP posts:
Original poster
PlaymobilPirate · 10/02/2019 23:09

Actually, hes 49!

OP posts:
ReaganSomerset · 10/02/2019 23:10

Well, he has nothing to lose by asking!

ReaganSomerset · 10/02/2019 23:11

Also, get a backup method or decide what you'll do if you get pregnant and make sure your partner knows too.

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General health
Original poster
PlaymobilPirate · 10/02/2019 23:12

Hrs not been to the doctors in years, didn't want to waste an appointment and time off work if it's likely to be a resounding no

OP posts:
Boulardii · 10/02/2019 23:12

Given your ages, I think the GP will agree to it. There might be a waiting list, so it might be worth using a more reliable method I The mean time

Boulardii · 10/02/2019 23:13

No, it’s definitely not a wasted appointment.

FadedRed · 10/02/2019 23:16

There was a item on BBC News website a couple of days ago about vasectomies no longer going to be offered on the NHS- so he’d better get a move on!
And proper contraception is a must until you have had the required number of negative spermicide tests after the operation.

GemmeFatale · 10/02/2019 23:19

My brother in law recently had one. He’s younger than your DH. Sister is younger than you. She has mixed feelings about it and would have liked the option for a second but he was done.

spreadingchestnuttree · 10/02/2019 23:21

DH had no trouble getting agreement and was much younger (mid thirties). Sounds like an excuse to me!

Singletomingle · 10/02/2019 23:22

Assuming hes read up on vasectomies I'm not surprised hes wary more than 1 in 10 have complications. More often than not these have a permanent effect upon a persons sexuality and lifestyle.

TheHobbitMum · 10/02/2019 23:23

Our GP just made sure the DH was certainly he wanted no more children, even if we divorced/widowed/experienced death of a child etc The GP also asked what contraception I had tried (failed implant, hormonal pill and 2 IUDs that were lost) to make sure all avenues had been considered.

Once DH explained he/we wanted absolutely no more children he was referred to another local GP surgery where the local vasectomy clinic was held. He then had the procedure about 2mths later

He's nothing to lose by going to speak to the GP

MarthasGinYard · 10/02/2019 23:24

Dp had one very easy and similar ages with 1dc

Original poster
PlaymobilPirate · 10/02/2019 23:25

We've been using withdrawal for 7 years - ridiculous I know!

He's done no research. To be honest though single how many pregnancies/ methods of contraception have a negative impact on women's lifestyles?

OP posts:
VanGoghsDog · 10/02/2019 23:30

My ex had no problem being referred, he didn't have an appointment, spoke to the GP on the phone and got referred.

Boulardii · 10/02/2019 23:33

If you have been using withdrawal for 7 years, it clearly works. I read into it at one point and i recall something about some men’s semen containing sperm prior to ejaculatuon, and some men’s doesn’t. (Still got to be extra careful if 2 shags on the trot tho)

Singletomingle · 10/02/2019 23:42

Playmobilpirate I'm not an expert but dont know of any that will leave a women with permanent and irreversible damage to their sexual function. Certainly not at the level of vasectomies in fact I doubt any other operation has the level of long term side effects that vasectomies do. The top specialists estimate more than 20% of there patients suffer erectile pain lasting longer than 6 months, I can only imagine what the results are for an overworked average doctor on the NHS are.

OlennasWimple · 10/02/2019 23:47

but dont know of any that will leave a women with permanent and irreversible damage to their sexual function.

Pregnancy and childbirth can easily do that to a woman. As well as other side effects such as incontinence (both sorts), varicose veins, hemorrhoids, dental problems, and significant stretch marks

Namenic · 10/02/2019 23:58

www.healthline.com/health/mens-health/vasectomy-side-effects#takeaway

@singletomingle - dunno where you get your stats but quite a lot of sites say chronic pain is rare. The above site suggests 1-2%.

Gibble1 · 11/02/2019 00:07

Just to support the person who said about vasectomy issues- I have heard about them too- anecdotally from urologists and a gynaecologist who was teaching during a laparoscopic sterilisation and was questioned by the junior surgeon about surely it being cheaper to refer the male for a vasectomy. His response was that yes it was immediately cheaper but problems yada yada and he would personally never have one when there are so many problems cropping up as the female sterilisation with clips had barely any problems noted bar immediate post operative pain.

FrustratedTeddyLamp · 11/02/2019 00:23

Pretty sure the NHS website says 1/10

TaimaandRanyasBestFriend · 11/02/2019 00:25

He'd never do it.

Namenic · 12/02/2019 06:42

www.letstalkaboutit.nhs.uk/media/1101/final-vas-pre-op-leaflet-april-2017-2.pdf

Cannot find the statistic for 1 in 10 chronic pain. The above link just says uncommon - but says 1 in 10 for bruising after op

spreadingchestnuttree · 12/02/2019 09:20

Here's the one in ten stat:

"Long-term testicular pain affects around one in 10 men after vasectomy"

www.nhsdirect.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/v/article/vasectomy/

FuzzyShadowChatter · 12/02/2019 10:34

My spouse got one in his late twenties on the NHS. Went to our GP when our youngest was about two months old, GP asked him the typical questions and there was no issue.

I really don't see why a GP would say no. My spouse even has a condition that made it a bit more complicated and that really only extended the time from GP agreeing to the procedure (about a year) due to disagreeing consultants which ended up overridden on the day anyways.

I do think it reads more like he's just coming up with reasons not have it done. In your situation, I wouldn't rely on him going through with it and make choices based on him probably not doing so.

MinnieMountain · 12/02/2019 10:59

DH is 39. We have a 5yo. He's having his next month. He was asked why, and was he sure he wasn't planning on leaving me for someone else who can have more DC. Otherwise it was straightforward.