Snip Snip Bish: Myth Busting Male Birth Control

When every man hears the word “vasectomy,” they clench a little. Which I suppose is great for our kegel exercises. However, what about the word makes us want to shield our family jewels from harm? Perhaps it is because there are many misconceptions and myths about male birth control and vasectomies. Popstar is here to dispel any rumors about this simple procedure. Think of us as the myth busters of male contraception. Here's the truth about vasectomy.

Perhaps the biggest misconception when it comes to vasectomies is that they are a very invasive procedure. *Game Show buzzer* wrong! Vasectomies are a very low-risk outpatient procedure that can be done under local anesthesia. The entire procedure, which involves cutting the vas deferens (you have two in case you were wondering), only takes about 20 minutes and can be performed at your urologist's office. You will most likely wait longer in line at the post office to overnight your last-minute Christmaskwanzakah gifts. 

For men that have female partners, a vasectomy is a much easier and safer solution than tubal ligation, better known as getting one’s tubes tied. Chivalry isn’t dead, gang. If you are looking for a permanent solution to birth control, be a gentleman, take one for the team, and get snipped.

This misconception is understanding because if you have balls, you know that even a light jimmy tap can send a grown man to their knees. When it comes to vasectomies, there is very little pain involved. The scariest part is probably the shot used to numb the area. What is so scary about a little prick near your prick, anyway? Not only is the procedure virtually painless, but the post-procedure discomfort is also easily managed with over-the-counter painkillers.

Many people think the post-op road to recovery is long and arduous, but that is yet another vasectomy fable. After a vasectomy, you can expect to spend a couple days at home. Two days, two seasons of The White Lotus to rewatch. Done. That being said, if you have a very physical and active job, take an extra day. Maybe you can spend the third day writing fanfiction for The White Lotus season 3. Or you could pick something else to watch, just a thought.

Unclear who started this rumor. Perhaps it was the patriarchy. This isn’t anything like the “sex feels better without a condom” theory. Your sex life will most likely only improve after a vasectomy. The pull-out method is a thing of the past with this noninvasive procedure. You can now have spontaneous sex without having to worry about unplanned pregnancies. Let’s BeReal, nothing is a bigger boner killer than a screaming baby you didn’t plan for.

Just like your favorite bomber jacket, vasectomies are reversible. They are not set in stone. That being said, the reversal procedure is more expensive and complicated than a vasectomy and isn’t always successful. So make sure when you sign up to get the snip, you’re 100% certain you’re done in the baby making department.

Speaking of price, another huge misconception about vasectomies is that they are costly. This simply isn’t true. You can absolutely get snipped without breaking the bank. A vasectomy, on average, costs $900. That’s basically 90 venti iced lattes. Make your coffee at home, save yourself the coffee shop trips and you will shortly have saved to get snipped! And for many men, the cost isn’t even an issue if they have health insurance. Many insurance plans front the cost of a vasectomy.