I got my vasectomy at 30, but I had 2 kids already, and I had to sign a paper saying that I was fully aware I was sterilizing myself, and although reversible, it was pretty much permanent.
Probably not. It's really tough to get a doc to perform elective sterilization surgery on women under about 35 or 40 who haven't had kids, because what if you change your mind later, etc. (Even if you're completely certain you don't want kids.) In a display of blatant sexism, it's much easier for young *guys* to go get The Snip. Go figure.
And there are less risks and complications for a male to have a vasectomy than a female to have a tubal ligation or hysterectomy. Plus it can cause a woman's hormones to become unbalanced, which can lead to needing hormone replacement therapy, or resulting in early onset menopause.
I've had at least a couple of youngish (late 20s) childless female friends who've had conversations with their doctors about wanting to get sterilized because they didn't want kids, ever, and knew so for certain. The doctors tried very hard to talk them out of it and the conversation focused nearly 100% on the nonreversibility of the operation rather than the potential complications of surgery and somatic sequelae.
Submitted by
GetOffMyLawn
on Nov 17, 12 at 10:44pm
I actually understand that. You can be absolutely certain now that you don't want kids and still change your mind later. Also, sterilization surgery for men can be reversed, whereas it can't for women.
It's not in a person's best interest, regardless of gender, to let them follow through on a permanent, life-changing decision if there is any possibility at all that they will regret it later.
If it were a reversible procedure, I would completely agree, but even if you're absolutely certain at the time that you will never want to have your own kids, you can't know for sure that your situation will always be the same and you'll never change your mind.
It's actually not easy at all for a young guy to get the snip. I tried when I was 25, and they told me you have to be at least 32, or have 3 kids, or they won't do it.
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