In over 30 years of practice, Dr. Errol Billinkoff rarely saw a man without kids come into his Winnipeg clinic to get a vasectomy. But since the pandemic began, he says it's become an almost daily occurrence.
And he's not alone.
"At first, I thought I was the only one who was noticing this," Billinkoff, who brought a no-scalpel vasectomy procedure to Winnipeg in the early 1990s, told CBC News in a November interview.
"But I am part of an international chat group where doctors who do vasectomies participate and the topic came up, and it's like everybody notices it."
Can anyone here who's gotten one comment on the vasectomy process? I've been pretty nervous seeing a lot of the comments about it. I don't even do well with a normal blood draw. I feel like I'd need general anesthesia for this.
I've never had kids. Got it done down in TX. Told the doc I've never wanted them and didn't want to pay for anymore abortions.
I did it fully conscious with local anesthesia because I had no one to pick me up and look after me if I took the knockout gas. There were a couple tiny pricks of pain next to the base of my penis, then numbness. An unpleasant tugging sensation in each testicle when he positioned my vas deferens to cut, cauterize, and clamp the ends. That was the worst part, but like I say, it didn't hurt. Aside from that, I nervously wisecracked with the nurses, who politely laughed and joked back. Then I put my pants back on, paid the bill (ouch!), drove myself home, and spent the weekend getting high and playing video games with frozen gel packs under my balls. All that felt like was the dull tenderness you get a little while after a blow to the junk. Totally manageable. I took some Advil or something.
Against advice, I returned to my strenuous job 3 or 4 days afterwards, and jerked off repeatedly much sooner than suggested. I've experienced zero complications, but ymmv. Taking my wisdom teeth out was much worse. Getting a tattoo is far more painful. It was a bit worse than getting my ears pierced, but healed faster.
8/10 Would totally repeat the experience just for the days off with zero responsibilities. My only regret is I didn't do it at 18.
Was really nbd. Gave me a local. Felt no pain at the time. Spent the next day in bed with ice on it. A little soreness, cleared up quickly. Way better than a kidneystone, fwiw.
I would hope so considering many people, including women who have given birth, describe kidney stones as the worst pain they've ever felt lol.
There was an initial consultation, where the doctor told me that quite a few childless men want to get the procedure reversed later, but you should consider it "not reversible." Not a problem for me.
On the day I entered a very small room with a reclined chair. The lights were dimmed. The only pain was a brief "pinch" during anesthesia. This was "needleless" anesthesia with some kind of aerosol device, but a needle probably would have been about the same. Needles don't bother me, so I considered this a gimmick.
It was done a lot faster than I thought. I was chatting with the urologist the entire time. The stitches were in a different part of my scrotum than I imagined they would be (higher up). Initial recovery was fine, but a couple weeks later I did have some post-op pain that was pretty bad. NSAIDS, suprisingly, helped quite a bit. This recurred a few times a year for about five years and then never again. It was not an infection. From what I understand this is a rare side effect, but possible. For a lot of people it's totally painless, but that was my experience.
I am squeamish as all hell. Didn't think I could do it. There's a consult. They give you a Xanax, I'd recomme r telling them you're a heavyweight and get a driver, also recommend to pay the extra 100 bucks for the laughing gas.
It's over fast. There's minimal pain. I ordered a jock strap and used it to hold ice packs over my underwear. It's uncomfortable but I just layed up all weekend. Overall what I got out of it is completely worth it.
I'll answer any questions you have
What did you got?
A vasectomy.
Edit: sorry I get it now. I got peace of mind knowing that I was in control of contraception. Not having children means a lot of freedom. So basically freedom and peace of mind.
It was relatively fast and painless. I had someone drive me home, wore athletic protection for a few days, laid off of any sort of rigorous exercise, and its been a really straightforward recovery experience after that. No ragrets.
I needed more medication to numb than he thought--way more. Don't be afraid to speak up. Otherwise, the process was easy. I had discomfort for longer than he said, but that's just how my body is. Two years later, I still have some discomfort doing certain things (not common things), but again that's how my body is. That is how it is for some people, and I am just one of those few unlucky people. I have the ability to sense painful things greater than most and the ability to tolerate that pain more than most. It was still worth it. My wife and I were done having children and now we don't have to worry about any surprises.
They use a small hole punch device after a spray anesthetic on the area to make a pinhole size hole. They pull the vas through and cut it before sheathing the vas so sperm can't get through then do the same with the second vas.
I had a small amount of pain with the second one but they applied more spray. It is kinda my own fault for not telling them ahead of time that I process all anesthetic drugs fast. I don't know why but I always require refreezing at the dentist for regular procedures.
https://www.pollockclinics.com/no-scalpel-vasectomy/our-approach/
Mine was pretty bad. The doctor was really stingy about pain meds. I was miserable the whole procedure and two weeks afterwards.
If I ever get a scheduled surgery again, I'm going to buy gray market pain meds ahead of time.
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I had a bad time with mine. They wouldn't give me anything beyond some local anesthetic. I could definitely feel tugging sensations as they did it, and I passed out and almost fell of the table afterwords. (Luckily my wife caught me as the nurse and Dr had already left the room)
Not bad painwise, but mine experience was not a walk in the park like I see other people have.
Only thing I felt was the shot to numb me before they cut. Some tenderness afterward but all in all Iβve had worse pain stubbing my toe.
Fairly fast, fairly simple. I arranged a friend to drive me and I was content the inconvenience fell under what I would ask of a friend. Got a local anaesthetic, the doctor and nurse talked about mundanities the entire time, which was comforting in a way. But I could see "why aren't you focused right now" being a valid question.
Recovery was pretty speedy, but I knew I was going to be on strong pain killers due to a surgery and timed my procedure for that.
Lasting effects, other than sterility and slight scaring, is that pulling my balls hurts much more than it used to. The 'suck on the balls' move in the vids would have me doubled over, they do not want to be tugged any amount, for any reason. For a time I got a periodic sharp pain in my sack that has long since gone.
All in all I'm happy I did it, would do it again. Would probably endure more for the benefits.
As to the article I count in this number. Knew I didn't want kids before my 18th and starting nagging the gp to establish a pattern. I had life changing injury at 26 due to a dangerous hobby, asked again and was referred then accepted. I don't want kids because I'm lazy, and I will orphan them young.
Mine was painful, I felt too much. The needle in each ball was a mule kick. Ive got that fancy genetic resistance to numbing agents. So other than the external lidocaine, I felt A LOT of what the guy was doing.
I get to blow my wife without second thought now though...so worth it for sure.
Whole thing lasts no more than 15-20 minutes. I took it easy for a few days but otherwise no issues. Was riding my bike and all that about five days after.
The only uncomfortable bit is when they put the anaesthetic... there's no easy way of saying this, but they have to stick the needle in both of the sperm ducts. That's a little uncomfortable but it lasts no more than 5 seconds per nut. From there on out no issues. You feel some stuff moving around down there, but no pain.
I had the scalpel free method, fwiw.
My clinic sent me this video to prep. It's quite useful. https://youtu.be/gzpYhe8QBsA
Mine was almost painless.
I took, paracetamol only after ward for a day. I was walking around with no issues after the local anesthetic wore off.
My brother had a really shit time, severe swelling and major pain for a week.
I think skill plays a big factor!
Go for a doctor that has a great reputation, ask people that they have done the procedure on!!!!!
My doc did it under local. His preference. After, there was a little discomfort but no real pain. Like that sensation after you've been kicked in the nuts but the pain has gone away. Kinda feels like a stone in your taint. Lasted a few days and I was off doing stuff for about a week. It wasn't terrible. Should have done it earlier honestly.
My doctor did a very good job. I barely felt anything after the freezing (he used a topical before injecting the actual dose), and he did the whole procedure quickly and efficiently.
Sent me home with a big bottle of pain killers, but I barely needed any of them.
My brother, on the other hand, was in pain for almost a week after his.
Find a well regarded doctor and you should have a better time.
For me the procedure was not bad at all, local anesthetic was enough. When it was done. I thought everything had gone smoothly. But I would say, pay attention to the possible after effects. Apparently somewhere less than 1% of people have pain that never goes away. I ended up having pain for a solid year. And still on a rare occasion even today, 14 years later my nuts will still ache. At least it's rare that it happens, but if I had to go back I don't know if I would have done it again. I also find ejaculation less satisfying than I used to. It's like lifelong blue balls. I'm not trying to talk you out of it. The risks for women having their version of the surgery is far worse.