You think you want a vasectomy?
So. You want to make sure you don't want any more children. You need to be absolutely 100% sure that this is what you want. Weigh up all the options, for both you and your partner, and speak with your GP.
Options for both - stop having sex, but that's no fun...
Options for her - are several but put the burden on her and the NHS over many years, include contraceptive pills, coils, implants and so on. None are 100% guaranteed as effective.
Options for him - vasectomy! Over time this is probably the most cost effective on the NHS and amongst the most effective, short of giving it all up.
There may well be more, medicine is constantly evolving.
Talk it through with your partner. Discuss each of the options as to effectiveness and what they would be prepared to do.
Vasectomy should be considered a permanent change. The NHS website might suggest that reversing it is not available on the NHS, has a low level of success and will cost a lot of money to go privately. If you're not 100% sure, you're not ready and you should not continue.
I felt that, seeing as she had tried implants and various contraceptive pills over the years and given my wife gave birth to our first SVD and second elective caesarean that it was my turn to take some of the responsibility. We both decided long before we got married that two children would be the limit, as long as they are both happy and healthy (which they are!) so this too was a big part of opting for a vasectomy. My wife has been using the pill and didn't fancy options for a coil. Which whittled down the options quickly!!
The NHS website has lots of advice on contraception, just tap it into your search engine of choice and read EVERYTHING. YouTube was another source of research but should be taken ever so slightly with a pinch of salt, some people's experiences are to one extreme based on their own procedure. Note that some videos are more, erm, graphic than others. There is one particular American "Brosectomy" which was amusing (not graphic) and worth a watch...
If you're still set on a vasectomy the next thing to do is to make an appointment with your GP. They will talk you through the options based on your particular stage in life. At the time of the appointment my youngest was a few months old and was certain on not having any more. The GP explained about the procedure, that it is not reversible and to be considered a permanent change which is really important to again discuss and decide with your partner, along with other options, again.
My GP did not refer me in my first appointment, which is standard practise, and we agreed I would discuss again with my wife and if, after a few more months, I was still keen for a vasectomy he would then refer me. Which we did.
