My husband had a vasectomy after our son was born. It was an out patient procedure that took maybe 15 minutes. He had to shave the area, and for the rest of the day keep it iced down. He was off from work one day only (actually, I think we did it on a Friday afternoon so he had the weekend to recover). He was very concerned that his equipment wouldn't work,typical man, but we had no problems whatsoever. Personally, since you are a SAHM, it'd be a better option. Good luck. If you need a name of a good urologist, let me know.
I am in the same boat (or will be soon, I'm pregnant with my 3rd now) and have pondered all these things. I don't know your reasons for not wanting to be on birth control but if you are just concerned about hormones, then the copper IUD (is that what you're referring to?) is the only non-barrier method I know of. BUT, if it is the way they operate, the copper IUD operates in the same fashion as all other birth control pills, patches, implants, etc.
As for a vasectomy or tubal ligation, make sure you do plenty of research first. Yes, some have had success with it but you will want to talk to people who have had it for more than a few years. My husband found a website called www.dontfixit.org (which also has a link to www.tubal.org) that mentions a lot of problems with vasectomies that are not commonly known or mentioned. My husband even did a little checking into the background of the guy who started the website and he seems legit. Men don't stop making sperm just because they have the procedure so it's got to go somewhere!
Josie,
We had the same delimma last year after I had our second child. Due to my husband having insurance through the VA and not wanting to risk getting pregnant again, we chose to have a tubal ligation done. My OB/GYN told me about a less invasive procedure. He was able to do it through my belly button and I was able to return to work in two days and felt great in just a couple weeks. Since it was done larthascopic there was no restrictions on lifting and was done outpatient. You may want to have someone stay with you and the kids for a couple days through, especially the first day after surgery. It was a great experience for us. I have not had an issues with weight gain. I can't speak about regular or irregular periods as I have always been irregular.
Val K
Well, I don't know if I'll be much help cuz I had my tubes tied at the same time I had my last baby. I had a planned c-section and so while I was already "cut open" he went ahead and did the procedure. I thought it was pretty quick and easy and I was wide awake. I experienced the same numbness and weakness from the c-section so it wasn't like it was "extra" discomfort. It only took me the normal 3 days to recover. I love not having to worry about it anymore and I hated the side affects of birth control. And my hubby was totally against anyone coming at him with a knife so it was me or nothing. lol. But it was fine. No problems whatsoever. So you sit around on the couch for a few days, no biggie. :)
A Vasectomy, is safer, faster recovery (generally 3-4days), and now doesn't even require an incision!
A tubal ligation is surgery that requires several weeks of recovery, causes scar tissue in the abdomen which can be painful, and can cause you to enter post surgical menopause.
Josie,
I have no experience with these myself, as I still want to have another child, but I was recently at my ob/gyn for the yearly, and I saw some brochures on a procedure called Essure. It is a form of permanent birth control for women that is less invasive than the tubal ligation. It looked interesting to me, something at least to look into.
www.essure.com
The website says you have to have an "essure-trained doctor." If your doctor is unfamiliar with it, I am happy to refer you to my ob/gyn practice, they are awesome. Just send me a message if you are interested.
After our (suprise but welcomed!) 5th baby, my husband and I were in your situation. My hubby didn't want me going through the tubal ligation, so he offer to get the vasectomy. This "procedure" happened in June of 2007, and even to this day after we have sex, his testicles hurt. They become extrememly tender. He has been to his urologist, and our family doctor for this, and they both explained that although uncommon, that this situation does happen. It doesn't happen every time we have sex, but enough to make me not thoroughly enjoy it due to me worrying if he will be in pain for the next couple of days after. Just something you should know and if you do go this route, maybe it's worth talking to the doc about. Good luck with whatever decision you both make:)
My hubby had a vascectomy after our sixth, and although he was freaked out and against it in the end he agreed that it is the easier, cheaper, safer procedure. I got to be in the room and he said at worst the pain during the procedure was "uncomfortable for a second" and other than that was just an interesting sensation. I think I was more upset during than him! I kept worrying he was being hurt. :) He is the whiner type when he's sick too, but even he said it wasn't too bad. As far as restrictions on sexual activities, we didn't have any, so I'm not sure what that is in reference to unless it's that you are supposed to use a condom until hubby's sperm checks come back clean (it takes a while for the ol spermies that were in there when the tubes were seperated to die out) That way you're not getting prego. again. Insurance coverage shouldn't really be an issue either. Honestly, the procedure IN TOTAL is only $500, female procedures as I have seen are MUCH more expensive, and you would be lucky to get away with $500 as a co-pay. We payed for hubby's out of pocket, and they said they would have been willing to do a payment plan. Hope this helps.
A vasectomy is wayeasier than a tubal ligation. It is not invasive and can be done during a lunch hour. What's the question???
Hello Josie,
I am a SAHM of 3 boys, 4 1/2 and twins that are 3. So I understand the no more children issue. Since my twins were early and it was an emergency, I could not get my tubes tied. However we sent him in for a vas. and that was so easy, I drove him home and he complained a little and that was it. However, I have heard of a new procedure they are doing on women and it only takes a few minutes with the OB in the office. Then you wont have to worry about waiting for him to stop releasing sperm, which does not happen immediately.
Good Luck
Hi,
I had a tubal ligation after my 3rd child and have had no problems. My ex-husband did not want to have a vasectomy because he had read somewhere that the sperm can build up, so to speak, because they have no place to go. I thought that he was just being a chicken, but I believe that I have recently read that this may be detrimental to the man, by causing something like atheroschlerosis, like a plaque build up clogging of the blood vessels. You may want to really investigate this before doing the vasectomy to see what the latest research shows. Good Luck,
Marilyn
Hi there. I had major issues with both of my pregnancies and therefore we made the decision to stop having children after our second. I spoke to my OBs (there were 5) as well as my family doctor, and did a lot of research. The conclusion we came to was that the vasectomy is much easier, less invasive, has a quicker recovery, and far less chance for issues than the tubiligation. That being said my hubby had the vas. He got it done on a Friday afternoon, and outside of a little swelling and tenderness, was fine by that night. I would receommend that you consult your OB, but think you will find the same answers- the vas is much easier! Good luck.
I say vasectomy!!
My theory is that not only is it much less evassive of a surgery, but you went through all the pregnancy, laboor delivery, and most likely do the magority of the caring for the kids...so I feel this is the mans turn to stand up and do what needs to be done:) My husband throughly agrees with me!!
My husband agreed to the vas and didn't have any major problems. He was very brused and sore for about a week, but otherwise fine. He whined a little bit about the pain, and I tried to be sympathic, but after 3 epsiotomies I finally told him that if he went through it 2 more times, then we'd be even. : ) Big note: make sure your husband goes for the follow up sperm checks. It's the only way to make sure the procedure worked.
I would go with the vasectomy. I feel this is a much easier procedure. My husband had this done after our 2nd, his 4th child. He was not keen on the idea at first but after talking about how much work it is to be pregnant and then watch me give birth he felt that was the least he could do to contribute to us not having anymore children. We are blessed but 4 children was enough 3 boys and 1 girl (18, 16, 7 and almost 2). I went with my husband the day of the procedure and he was able to and wanted to drive home. He was sore for a few days but able to go back to every day things fairly quickly. Good luck with what ever decision you and your husband make.
Hello Josie! I had the tubal ligation 10 years ago. I had the proceedure right after giving birth. Personally I would not recommend this proceedure to ANYONE! My estrogen levels went very low. I had postpartum depression, which the dr. contributed to having the tubal right after giving birth. I have scar tissue on my tubes now that causes me to have horrible cramps the week before my period. During this time, sex is sometimes painful as well. My dr. says this is a lot more common than some dr's would like us to believe. Looking back now, both my husband and I wish that we would have opted for a vasectomy or another form of permanent birth control. I do have friends who had the tubal and had no problems whatsoever. They are the reason I opted for the tubal. Good luck.
As a mom of three myself, i know how you feel... My husband and i were at the same road when I was pregnant for #3. I decided to go with the tubal for myself. This was my reasoning: the women in my family have a history of needing a hystorectomy by the age of 40... seeing that i knew this and knew that i didn't want anymore children, i opted for the tubal. My husband had concerns about getting a vasectomy... some men feel like less of a man, and i have talked with some that said they had sexual side effects from a vasec.
If you are concerned about the surgery for you...let me tell you from experience it wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. small cut in my bellybutton, and i was sore for about a week. by the 2nd week, i was feeling better. I know everyone heals differently, but my experience wasn't too bad. i think you are doing the right thing by asking around and looking at all of your options.
good luck
Vasectomy all the way. It's about a twenty minute procedure. My husband took 2-3 days icing it on and off. He said he had a little pain but the day before he fell and broke his elbow and wrist. he said that contributed to most of the pain. Good luck, Lara
My best friend had her tubes done 4 yrs ago and she couldnt walk for 3 wks afterwards the pain was so bad.. So when it was our turn to decided what/who to get done.. We chose my hubby. He did it friday and was back on a ladder at his construction job on monday with no problems. He was in and out of the office in 20 minutes.. minimal pain and swelling but no blood or stiches.. Seems much easier to me.. Plus after having 2 natural births myself.. I figured it was his turn for a little pain..lol..
Good luck!
I had a c-section in April and a tubal at the same time. It was much easier to have them both at the same time vs. having me undergo surgery a second time after my son was born. I had no problems with it. I released myself from the hospital a day earlier than required for the surgeries and was home carrying my toddler around and my infant and doing laundry, climbing stairs...etc. I'd say, it depends on you and how you recover from surgery...what's normal for you. And your doctor's skill as a surgeon. Some men are just weirded out by the thought of having anything sharp near their private parts...of course, the decision will boil down to which one of you feels less troubled by the surgery itself. But, if you're worried, I wouldn't be. It's not that bad. And, I didn't gain any weight from it either. I would say I'm back to my pre-pregnancy size already.