The vast majority of men who get vasectomies tend to be older in age. Even though men can legally get a vasectomy when they turn 18, many doctors are hesitant to perform such a permanent procedure on someone younger than 30. Some vasectomy specialists will even turn patients down.

Why Young Men May Want a Vasectomy

The reasons a young man might seek out a vasectomy are not so different from the reasons that an older man might have. For many men, regardless of age, the idea of having carefree sex without worrying about pregnancy is a very attractive prospect. If you’re in a long-term committed relationship with someone who shares your perspective, getting a vasectomy might make a lot of sense in this context. However, it’s important to note that vasectomies don’t protect you from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). If there’s a risk of getting an STD, you will still need to wear a condom.

Carefree sex isn’t the only motivator. For some young men, they have no desire to ever have a child. As a form of permanent contraception, vasectomies offer these men the option of never having to worry about it. Vasectomies may also be considered by young men who have some kind of inheritable condition that could potentially be passed down to a child.

Why Doctors Hesitate

In general, doctors prefer to wait until someone is a little older before performing a vasectomy. While the desire to be child-free forever is completely valid, making such a decision when you’re in your early 20s might not reflect how you will feel about it in 10 or 20 years. If you’re with a partner who is on the same page as you, it’s important for you to consider whether there’s even a tiny chance you might want to have children in the future.

Fertility After Vasectomy

Although vasectomies are considered permanent, it doesn’t have to completely limit your fertility options in the future should you ever change your mind. If you have your heart set on getting a vasectomy and have found a doctor willing to perform the procedure, you can still keep your options open in one of two ways. The first way is through pre-vasectomy sperm banking, in which you have your sperm frozen and stored before going through with the procedure.

The second way is through another procedure known as a vasectomy reversal. Although vasectomies are permanent, they can actually be surgically reversed in many cases. However, this is highly dependent on the surgeon. If you do choose to one day have your vasectomy reversed, be sure to work with a surgeon who has a high success rate.

To learn more about the long-term effects of having a vasectomy performed at a young age, contact San Diego Vasectomy Center today.