Vasectomy at 28 : One man's decision

[bliss_eternal]

Vasectomy at 28: One man's decision
Wyoming man had the procedure after deciding he never wanted kids

Single men and vasectomies
Oct. 3: Toby Byrum had the procedure at 28, and the number of men who do this is on the rise. TODAY’s Matt Lauer on this new trend.
Today show


By Mike Celizic
TODAYShow.com contributor
Updated: 9:32 a.m. PT Oct 3, 2007

Like many men, Toby Byrum decided to have a vasectomy to end his reproductive years. Unlike most of them, Byrum had his at the age of 28 while he is still single and childless.

Two years later, the Web consultant from Jackson Hole, Wyoming, has no regrets.

“I view the next 15-20 years of my life as some of the best years I’m going to live. I wanted to make sure those years were . . . going to make me ultimately the happiest person I could be,” he told TODAY co-host Matt Lauer.


----------------------------snip------------------------

He’s not alone. Urologists around the country say that they are seeing a small but growing number of young men who are deciding to have vasectomies when they are young, all but insuring that they will never be able to have children of their own.

“It’s kind of getting to be a departure from this society – a wife, a husband, have kids, live in the suburbs, – and instead is more, ‘Maybe we don’t want to have kids,’ “ Byrum said.

What makes Byrum different from most men who undergo the procedure at such a young age is that he did not ‘bank' sperm before having his vas deferens – the tubes that convey sperm from the testicles – severed in a 20-minute out-patient surgical procedure.

----------------------------snip----------------------------

Byrum is the only male child in his family, and if he does not reproduce, the family line will die out. Lauer asked if that was a consideration.

“After thinking about it, it really isn’t a factor to me in wanting to have kids or not,” Byrum said. In a pre-interview, he added that he thought that having a child simply to continue his legacy would be selfish.

--------------------------snip-------------------------------


taken from:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21115130/wid/11915773?GT1=10514

I can't tell you how many times it's been inferred that women that choose to NOT have children through practicing birth control or having an abortion are "selfish." How they are "denying their husband's the opportunity to procreate." :eyes: It's refreshing to see a man say the opposite regarding his choice. :thumbsup:

[lizerdbits]

1. "Selfish" woman here

I knew around 17 I wasn't interested. How likely would I be to get a tubal ligation even at 33? Not very, since I don't have kids. I could change my mind later and then wallow in misery for the rest of my life. :eyes:

Bitching aside :) , I'm glad to see people doing what is best for them. Will the Republicans show up at his house and sing "Every Sperm is Sacred" in protest? Or does that not count as 'wasting' them?

[ismnotwasm]

2. "the family line will die out"

For pity's sake, do we still think that way? The "only male child" Arrgh.

Anyway, I support the young man's choice in this. Not everyone HAS to have kids. Some of the most well rounded people I've ever met in my life were child-free.

[musette_sf]

3. tubal ligation at 26: one woman's decision

that i have never regretted!

it was 1980.

there was LOTS of resistance from the docs and the insurance company.

you prolly have a pretty good idea of all the insulting interrogation i had to go through with the docs.

but i will say that i made the insurance company pay for what they considered "elective surgery" on the basis that they would have paid if i popped one out, so they were saving money this way.

[bliss_eternal]

4. Not only can I imagine...

...I've heard firsthand. :(

A family friend requested one in the early 80's. She knew she didn't want children. She was considered young (late twenties or early thirties)and they put her through hell. Get this...her husband had to sign off on it, saying HE never wanted children. In other words, male permission was seen as prerequisite. :eyes:

I'm sorry you went through that, but glad you were able to get what you wanted.

I have a friend that was born with a hole in her heart. As such, she couldn't take birth control pills (or much other medication). She tried other methods and has two kids. ;) While on the table having the second, they honored her request for a tubal ligation based on her heart condition (contraindicating bcp) and stating she didn't want more children. That was also in the 80's. She was shocked they did it, as she was in her 20's and it was also a Catholic hospital. I think the heart thing pushed the envelope in her favor.