The snipping

[quakerboy]

Any of you had the ol snip snip done? How'd it turn out?

Ive been considering it. Overall, It seems like a good idea. I hear horror stories, but only one that Ive ever been able to confirm as real(a guy with 3 tubes, had a very unexpected surprise child). But you hear about issues. Or at least I do, maybe you never did.

So.. whats the DU experience of vasectomy's?

[PRETZEL]

1. Easy

took about a half hour.

Even drove myself.

It's not a big deal.

[quakerboy]

10. It sounds like theres

a very minimally invasive version.. the so-called no scalpel technique. Slightly misleading, as they still cut ya, just not with a scalpel. That one sounds less likely to cause initial discomfort though.

[PRETZEL]

19. There might be

but mine was done with scalpel.

I guess my doctor was just pretty good.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Mine was a very unpleasant experience.

Despite the benefits, I often wish I hadn't had it done.

[quakerboy]

8. can you elaborate a little?

Even a general idea would be helpful. Was the experience itself traumatic, or was there some after effect that is a problem, or what?

[DavidDvorkin]

15. The doctor who did was recommended by my family doctor

who had nothing but good things to say about him.

However, while being prepped for the operation, I was given incorrect information by the nurse and as a result chose not to receive one of the painkilling shots. So I felt much of the surgery.

During the surgery, while I was on the table with my knees propped up and everything exposed, the doctor allowed a drug salesman to come in and talk to him. And then a female drug saleswoman -- a young woman who acted as horrendously embarrassed as I felt. I should add that my exposed end, where the surgery was being done, was facing the doorway.

The nurse assisting at the surgery -- same one who gave me the incorrect drug advice -- had long, painted fingernails. I feel lucky that I didn't get a bad infection. I did have a low-level fever for a few days afterwards.

It was a long time ago, and I think there was more, but that's what I still remember.

[DavidDvorkin]

16. Oh, as for the lingering regrets

From time to time, I have odd pains in my scrotum. That started after the vasectomy. Nothing agonizing, but quite disturbing.

[lumberjack_jeff]

3. No personal experience.

But I have it on good authority that you don't want to "try it out" prior to the doctor's instructions.

[ellisonz]

4. Don't do it dude. n/t

[quakerboy]

7. Why not?

[ellisonz]

9. You could regret doing so.

Plus, my father had it done and was creepily proud of it. Why rule out the option? I mean is using protection really that difficult.

[quakerboy]

12. Ive known since I was 5

that I didn't really want to increase the population of humans on the planet. I was willing to reconsider for the right woman, but I knew even before puberty that I would prefer to adopt than procreate. My wife seems inclined to be totally without kids, which I do not find objectionable.

The older I get the less desire I have to procreate, even if the unthinkable happened and I found myself single again. Barring an apocalyptic situation where I have the sole responsibility of repopulating the earth because literally no one else is left to do it, I dont have any desire to be a biological father.

As for protection, that's a multi-layered issue. We, not wanting to be parents, are doubling up to make it as impossible as possible. But we are limited. A latex allergy leaves us with restricted condom options. We still use them, but the non-latex start to add up in price over the years. Plus they seem to be more breakable, so having the second BC in place seems that much more important. And I can definitely tell the difference in my own pleasure level between using them and not. So, it is a bit of a difficulty, one that I would prefer to skip if the right option for doing so presents itself.

As for the other, spermicides and skin infection seem to be directly connected for her, so those are out. When we stopped using those, the infections stopped dead. Several forms of hormonal control have caused health issues and had to be discontinued. We have one that seems to work, but for the long term I do not, as an amateur biologist, see how disrupting the normal hormone cycle can be a healthy thing.

[ellisonz]

14. You seem to be thinking this through...

Happy Copulation Day!

[Warren DeMontague]

5. No way.

Last time I paid for a haircut was probably 1994.

[quakerboy]

6. Ive only had one paid-fer haircut in my life

At least, as far as I am aware. As a kid, I had family members do it. I had one supercuts clip that I was unimpressed with. Since then, I just don't cut my hair at all.

[Warren DeMontague]

11. Anyway, I was just kidding. I take no position on vasectomies, pro or con.

Your body, your choice, I'd say. Although it's a big step, so not to be taken lightly I'd think.

[quakerboy]

13. True that

despite it potentially being, as someone else said, a 30 minute walk out the door under your own power type procedure, Anything surgical down in that area is traumatic. I'm the guy who can walk up to a artery spritzing blood up onto a 20 foot ceiling and calmly clamp it shut to save the patient. I'm the guy who thought I had severed my own artery with a sword(you wouldn't believe me if i said why), and dealt with my impending death stoically and logically, applying pressure and making the necessary calls. But one little tiny cosmetic operation down there to remove a couple skin tags that were trying to grow, and I damn near passed out.

Or did you mean the losing the option of future children?

[Warren DeMontague]

17. I meant the future children thing.

but I can also see how it might be stressful from the other angle, too.

[Rowdyboy]

18. I swear I thought you were talking about circumcision until you mentioned

the guy with 3 tubes. Suddenly my answer didn't make any sense at all.

No idea about a vasectomy. Never been much of an issue for me but I'm not much of a fan of unessential surgery.

[racaulk]

20. I thought the same thing!

I was ready to pull out the popcorn. Circumcision threads never seem to go well at DU.

[racaulk]

21. Sorry, I have no idea.

I have no need to have the procedure done. A welcome benefit of being gay is that you don't ever have to worry about unexpected pregnancies.

I have a couple of friends that have had it done, but I haven't ever really questioned them about their experience. So I don't even have second-hand knowledge to share with you.

Best of luck to you, whatever you decide.

[snooper2]

22. One of my friends said his balls didn't work right afterwards

LOL..

he was off work for like a day or two and when he came back we went outside for a smoke break. He told me (this is an older country guy) he kept sitting on his nuts because they "forgot their training" LOL

A couple hours later I hear from 20 feet away him scream ow OW OW I literally was

People around us were like WTF is going on..


After a few days everything was back to normal though

[HuskiesHowls]

23. Bill Cosby did a little thing about this a LONG time ago

find the track "Oops", from the album "I Started Out As a Child". It is hilarious, and gives you something to think about!!

Dr: Scalpel. Wipe. Scissors. Oops.
Cosby: What you mean "Oops??? I know what I mean when I say Oops, what do you mean when YOU say Oops??"