A vasectomy is a form of permanent contraception. If you’re in a relationship with a spouse or partner who might be considering having children someday, it’s a good idea to discuss family planning and contraception options before you make a permanent decision. When it comes to talking about this sensitive topic, consider all your family planning options.

Temporary contraception

If you and your partner are on the fence about building a family, temporary contraception is a smart — if not entirely foolproof — method of preventing pregnancy. You can select one or more of the following options based on your comfort and physical needs.

• Barrier methods (condoms, diaphragm, cervical cap and sponges)
• Hormonal methods (pill, patch, NuvaRing^®, hormone shots, Implanon)
• Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
• Emergency contraception (i.e., the morning after pill)

You and your partner can also practice natural family planning by tracking her menstrual cycles, temperature or cervical mucus, in order to avoid sexual intercourse during her ovulation period. However, you should consult with a physician to ensure you that understand these processes.

Permanent contraception

If you and your partner are absolutely sure you do not want to conceive, then permanent contraception via surgery might be right for you. Men can undergo the safe and 99% effective procedure of a no needle no scalpel vasectomy, or women can undergo the more invasive tubal ligation procedure.

Fertility preservation

If you anticipate that you might want to have children one day but are definitely sure you don’t want to have them right now, you can safeguard your fertility by preserving your eggs, sperm or embryos before undergoing vasectomy or tubal ligation surgery. Sperm banking is a fast and easy way to protect your family planning options should you have a change of heart and decide you want children later on.

Getting a vasectomy should not negatively affect your life in any way and does offer a few benefits; though it’s only right for men who have talked about family planning with their partners and are certain they wish to proceed with this permanent solution. Check out our frequently asked questions web page to learn more helpful information to share with your partner.