Should You Get a Vasectomy: 5 reasons to consider it

“Receiving a vasectomy is one of the most effective options amongst all other contraceptive methods available, whether these be male- or female-oriented,” notes Dr Tony Chan Tung-fei, a specialist in general surgery. According to him, “the success rate of vasectomy is nearly 99.9 percent.”

Existing forms of contraception contain a relatively high risk of an unexpected pregnancy. According to the WHO’s statistics on family planning and contraception methods, seven unplanned pregnancies per 100 pill users occur every year, whilst other contraceptive methods, like the use of condoms, range from 13 to 21 unplanned pregnancies per 100 users each year. These stakes might sound pretty low on their own, but when you compare them to the 0.15 unplanned pregnancies per 100 patients each year for vasectomy, the effectiveness of this procedure is indisputable.

Contrary to common knowledge of vasectomies, it is not a new kind of surgery, but one with a long history of being performed. The risk involved is also relatively low compared to other common surgeries. The procedure for a vasectomy is also relatively simple. Dr Chan explains that “the pain levels and recovery period of a vasectomy can be compared to having your wisdom tooth removed.”

With the advancement of medical techniques and surgical equipment, a vasectomy can be performed without a scalpel today. “The surgical procedure of a vasectomy is actually much simpler than that of female sterilisation,” says Dr Steven Law Chung-yau, a specialist in general surgery.

The procedure is typically performed under local anaesthesia and takes only 15 to 20 minutes, leaving a puncture in the skin that is generally smaller than five millimetres. This means no stitches will be required for the wound to heal, greatly reducing the risk of health complications post-surgery.

Contrary to widespread understanding, “a vasectomy does not affect the sexual health and function of men in any impactful way,” says Dr Chan. Not only does a vasectomy pose no negative impact to the patient’s sexual health, but studies have also shown that getting a vasectomy might actually improve the patient’s and their partner’s sex lives. Given the myriad of issues faced by the modern city dweller, the added stress of an unexpected pregnancy can reduce the enjoyment of one’s sex life.

After all of the advantages of a vasectomy, what exactly is the cost of the surgery? Vasectomies are often thought to be more expensive than common contraceptive methods, like using a condom or going on the pill. Simply because it’s a surgery and it’s an “uncommon” one, it must be more expensive, right?

You would be surprised to know that, according to this study done by the doctors at MSI Australia, the lifetime cost of using condoms as a contraceptive is 20 times higher than getting a vasectomy, whilst the cost of other forms of birth control, like tubal ligation (the female equivalent of a vasectomy), is at least 10 times higher. The same can be applied to the situation in Hong Kong. Where the cost of a vasectomy at a private clinic or hospital starts at around $12,000, you can expect the lifetime costs of using other forms of contraceptives to follow the same patterns.

If you’re using contraceptives because they are cheaper than the cost of raising a child, a vasectomy is not only a cheaper alternative but also a much safer and stress-free option for you to consider.

It is important to remember that the financial and career-related stress of raising a child is not solely the male partner’s concern. Unexpected and unprepared pregnancies are just as stressful to female partners, if not even more so. Getting a vasectomy allows you to alleviate family planning responsibilities from your partner’s shoulders, and in many cases, avoid exposing your loved one to unnecessary health risks from using other contraceptive methods like the pill or the coil.