Vasectomy or Tubal Ligation?

Updated on July 26, 2011
D.F. asks from Twinsburg, OH
24 answers

I have 2 children. My husband and I don't want any more children and I don't want to keep taking birth control pills until I hit menopause. Which procedure is easier on the patient? A Vasectomy for my hubby or getting my "tubes tied"?

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So What Happened?

Thank you for the responses! I'm going to see what I can do to get my husband to get the procedure done. I had a talk with him about it, and he said maybe next year. I really want to get off of these birth control pills. But I"ll wait until after the New Year to start bugging him again!

Featured Answers

B.S.

answers from Lansing on

My husband got a vasectomy on a Friday and back to work on Monday. No complications, not a lot of pain, and quick recovery.

Plus, my thought is we bear the children, let them experience some pain in regards to child bearing, right?

3 moms found this helpful

L.C.

answers from Washington DC on

Vasectomy - hands down.
It was easy, quick, and he was mowing the lawn within a couple of days.
LBC

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J.L.

answers from Chicago on

Vasectomy...Less risk. Tubal more risk and side effects. It's time for him to bear a little discomfort and sacrafice.

2 moms found this helpful

More Answers

M.M.

answers from Tampa on

The V for him... local anesthesia, 15-30 minute in and out procedure, back to normal the next day.

If a tubal for you - means general complete anesthesia, possible overnight stay at the hospital and at least a week to recuperate. Women tend to get a nasty side effect to tubals due to the sudden change of hormonal levels which rarely correct itself. Look up the post tubal ligation syndrome:
http://www.tubal.org/VGHPTS.htm

4 moms found this helpful

M.J.

answers from Dover on

Vasecotomy, but you HAD to have already known that, right?

3 moms found this helpful

H.S.

answers from Cincinnati on

I'm on the V team too. My husband was gone about 90 minutes and drove himself home. We went to a cookout that night!

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J.E.

answers from Cleveland on

I spoke to a few drs. that said there is no doubt that a vasectomy is easier recovery and all. Tubal is still surgery. My hubby just had it done last week. No scalpel and he has said really no pain. He has taken no Tylenol or anything. He said I had the kids then he will have the vasectomy. And he actually went through with it. :-)

1 mom found this helpful
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K.D.

answers from Dallas on

My hubby had a Vasectomy. It was our $30 co-pay at the urologist vs/ the $500 deductible for out patients for me. His recovery was 3 days vs the week or so it would have been for me. My hubby said it was so easy, he has no idea why he didnt do it sooner. LOL

I vote Vasectomy all the way. Easier and cheaper.

1 mom found this helpful
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H.D.

answers from Cleveland on

A Vasectomy is easier on the patient. My hubby wanted me to get my tubes tied since I needed a c-section w/ our 2nd child. He said "Since you're already going to be opened up, have him tie your tubes." The hospital I gave birth in is a Catholic hospital (I went there b/c it's a good hospital, lots of my family was born there, & they'd been delivering babies for over 100 years). My dr. said he wasn't allowed to tie tubes at that hospital (b.c it's a Catholic one) but would do it if I went to the other hospital where he practiced. I told him no & my hubby went in for the vasectomy. He recovered quickly & said it wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.

1 mom found this helpful
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R.C.

answers from Phoenix on

A vasectomy is the cheapest, least invasive option, but not always the best given that 1 in 6 men have chronic pain for 7 months or more following the procedure. Tubal ligation does come with it's risks as well because it is abdominal surgery usually requiring general anesthesia. Allow about 3-5 days of healing time for either operation. Please do your research carefully before making this big decision. I wish this question had an easier answer.

1 mom found this helpful
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C.H.

answers from Cleveland on

I had the essure procedure done last July and had no problems. Within an hour of the surgery I was sitting at my son's baseball game.....may not be your case, but I can't sit still and was worried about my exercise routine, etc. I don't regret doing it. Talk to you doctor! Good Luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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C.B.

answers from Columbus on

My husband said, "You went through child birth, let me at least to do this." It made sense to me.

1 mom found this helpful
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J.C.

answers from Cleveland on

Tell him to snip it, baby! Much easier for him than you! Hopefully he won't drag his feet when you tell him to "man up"!

1 mom found this helpful
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K.M.

answers from Chicago on

Vasectomy, we never discussed any other option. I found him a no scalpel dr and he was in and out in about 20mins.

1 mom found this helpful
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A.C.

answers from Dayton on

A friend of mine had her tubes tied about ten years ago, and has regretted it. She's had many problems that can traced back to the tubal, including premature pre-menopausal symptoms. She tells everyone considering a tubal not to ever do it.

I told my husband that when we were done having children, he had to take care of it. I took birth control for years and it caused many problems with my hormones that took years to reverse. I will no longer voluntarily mess with my hormones.

1 mom found this helpful

B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

A vasectomy is much easier, I think it's cheaper and it's an out patient procedure.

1 mom found this helpful
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S.S.

answers from Daytona Beach on

both are outpatient procedures now. the recovery time is the same. depends on who can take off work, etc. good luck

1 mom found this helpful

C.O.

answers from Washington DC on

I know what you mean!!! It all depends upon medical history and the pain threshold of the person....

I think the tubal ligation is the easiest of the two...I was back to work in two days (I had it done on a Friday) and Saturday I was good.

My ex-husband had a vasectomy when HE was done having kids (notice I said ex? LOL) when he was snipped, it took him two days to recover as well....now keep in mind, he had his procedure done in 1992....things may have changed for that.

any way - I had TL in April 2010 then a full hysterectomy in Feb 11...

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D.P.

answers from Pittsburgh on

It's common knowledge that the "V" is a simple, in-office procedure! Tubal ligation is a general surgery with anesthesia. It's a no-brainer. He can get a vasectomy this week!

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S.K.

answers from Chicago on

I will reiterate what everyone else has said -- vasectomy! Cheaper, faster, safer, and more effective! It is not even a contest.

1 mom found this helpful

L.A.

answers from Austin on

Vasectomy..

Here in Austin there is a Doctor Chopp. His specialty? Urology!

During the Superbowl, he offers a special deal for Vasectomies and has huge TV's with recliners for the guys to recover in.. Very clever!
They say he has a great sense of humor and makes it an easy procedure..

http://www.healthgrades.com/physician/dr-richard-chopp-2v...

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S.S.

answers from Chicago on

For me it would be a choice of who do I want to be surer of lol. I know for a fact I want NO MORE children. However should something happen to me I know that my hubby might want more. its cheaper for the man to get it done.

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M.G.

answers from Chicago on

Vasectomy!! The only time a tubal is easier is if the woman has it done during a c-section (which I just did four weeks ago).

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G.B.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I honestly think if you are sure you are done having children it is your own responsibility to have a sterilization procedure. I recommend the Essure procedure. The doc inserts a spring like coil in the tube and it is coated with a medication that causes the cells to reproduce and grow. It basically makes its own plug in the tube. It can be done in the docs office and you get up and may experience some mile cramps but not bad.

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