To Snip or Not to Snip? That is the Question...

Now that I'm 30 weeks pregnant, I'm on the home stretch. The closer we get to labor and delivery, the more apparent it’s become that the hubby and I need to make some tough decisions on permanent birth control.

As you know, we’re 100 percent certain that with three our family is complete. I can tell you without a doubt that I don’t want my tubes tied. Aside from the long-term complications some women experience after a tubal ligation, I just don’t feel it’s my cup of tea. Seriously, after carrying three babies (for almost 30 months combined) as well as birthing and nursing them (for 24 months and counting), I feel my body has been put through enough turmoil and pain. Frankly, I think it’s time for the other parent get off the bench, get in the game and take one for the team.

We’ve talked about the big V openly. For the sake of privacy, let's just say the idea is on the table. As a man though, I can understand if he's on the fence.  Perhaps, because of signs like this.

image courtesy of GoodMenProject.com

If I saw this, I can’t say I’d be dying to get cut by this guy. Now this one attempts to make it seem like a vacation.  

image courtesy of bitsandpieces.us

Yeah right! A vacation it's not. But, recently it did come to my attention, there are many urology practices nationwide that run vasectomy promotions around Super Bowl weekend. Hey, with Super Bowl XL VI less than seven days away, I wonder what kind of last minute discounts can be had!

I know it’s scary to make light of it, but now I see why some men won’t go through with it and why others are on the fence until they’re shoved off by their wives.

Like some wives, I'm admitting to being on the fence myself. But, not for fear of any surgical complications. I’m sure the reputable urologists out there know how to protect the family jewels. My hesitancy has more to do with this unnerving thought in the back of my mind -- once men have vasectomies they have nothing holding them back from cheating on their spouses because of a built-in protection against pregnancy. 

It's not that I believe in my heart of hearts that my husband will cheat. However, if he's snipped, we have certainly removed a major obstacle if he ever decided to do it. Some would consider this a good reason not go through with it.

After reading this blog post, No Strings Attached, other wives seem to have a different view on the subject. This popular DC mommy blogger mentioned that there are some women who actually take comfort in their husbands’ vasectomies. Why? Because in the event of divorce, he’d no longer be able to have kids with any other woman.  


In this case, a vasectomy is some sort of insurance for the first wife that her kids will always be her husband's (or dare I say ex-husband's) primary focus. Sounds rather conniving and somewhat sinister, if you ask me. Not to mention, self-serving. I mean as married couple, you shouldn't make decisions based on the possibility that you may get divorced. Much to my husband's relief, I can honestly say that this thought has never crossed my mind. And, I think if we posed the reciprocal – men being happy over their wives' tubal ligation because she could no longer produce kids with a new man – women would be up in arms.

So, ladies and gentlemen what do you think? Is it wrong to be happy about a man’s vasectomy because he can’t reproduce with another woman? Or, is it natural to feel this way? And, for those on the fence about vasectomies, has the possibility of cheating ever entered your mind and made you reconsider?