To think it doesn't make sense to charge £300 for a vasectomy?

[LiegeAndLief]

We are DEFINITELY not having any more children, ever ever ever. Dh quite happy (well, resigned) to have a vasectomy. However, the GP says that they no longer do them on the NHS in our area and he would have to go to a private clinic, which will cost £300. We can't really afford this at the moment.

Now, I know that of course this isn't a life-saving or essential medical procedure, but given that the NHS would be willing to fund hormonal contraception for me for the next 20 years or so, surely it would be cheaper to just pay for dh's vasectomy? Or am I being hopelessly naive? I just don't understand the thinking behind this at all.

I assumed that all contraceptives were free. My implant lasts three years and needs replacing in 2013! But i love it. I suppose the nhs sees it as women are still even after their partner is sterilised, put onto contraceptives for other reasons, such as very heavy/ irregular or dreadfully painful periods/ So the nhs see it as paying out twice!

YANBU. We are in a situation where the area I'm in will refer for vasectomy, but we are facing stiff opposition from the doctor because DH is "too young" (29). We have 2 DC and know we don't want anymore. Going to try one more time, with me going in at the same time, but if they still won't then we'll have to pay to have it done privately. My doctor really wants me to try coils, pills etc to see if they work before we even discuss a more permanent method such as sterilisation as I am too young as well (26) and "sterilisation won't even be considered an option for someone your age" .

The argument that I already have a chronic illness (fibromyalgia) and being pregnant is very difficult both physically and mentally for me, as well as the fact I don't want to upset the tenuous balance between illness and being well that I am maintaining at the moment and so don't want to take/use hormonal methods for long term contraception, has no bearing on the doctor's opinion that I should try to keep my options open with pills/coil. My fears about falling pregnant through a situation with a condom that fails, however careful we are, also fall on deaf ears. It's so frustrating - sorry for the rant!

Move!
I had it done on NHS four weeks after seeing gp for initial consult!
Hull is much nicer than Oxfordshire anyway.

YANBU - I think I would have cried if dh couldn't have had his done. I like many others don't tolerate the pill, and get pregnant at the drop of a hat (not boasting I know it's very difficult for some but for us concraception is critical). A vasectomy was the only way we were able to relax about contraception.

It seeems ridiculous that they may end up spending more on map, ongoing contraceptive treatments (pill, mirena's etc) and abortions rather than just paying for the bloody snip.

£300 is alot of money to -us- some and when you have children already it is hard to justify that exepnse.

Hmm balotelli - I have been to Hull - maybe I didn't see it at its best?

Doris I am very similar. Have had all sorts of trouble with hormonal contraceptives and just don't want to do it any more, so am currently living in fear of a condom failure. I was more than a little pissed off when I realised dh wouldn't be able to get it done in the foreseeable future!

Good question two, that isn't something I'd thought to ask about.