I'm in a long-term relationship, and neither of us wants to have kids. What is our best option to prevent an unwanted pregnancy?
The best option for pregnancy prevention is a vasectomy.
Let me tell you all the ways a vasectomy is a superb choice here:
A vasectomy is a minor, outpatient surgical procedure with few side effects.
You get a local anesthetic so that you won't feel a thing!
It's cheap! The highest price I've found is $1000, which is peanuts compared to other birth control methods. Also, if you have health insurance, they may cover all or parts of the procedure.
It's reversible. If you change your mind later in life, there is a high likelihood that you can have it reversed.
Recovery time is a week. Icing and support for 48 hours, then avoiding heavy lifting and exercising for a week!
Vasectomies are 99% effective in preventing pregnancy!
A vasectomy is the cutting of the vas deferens, two tubes that run from the testicles to the urethra. When you ejaculate, the sperm cannot travel through the severed vas deferens; instead, the body absorbs the sperm. You will still ejaculate semen, the fluid your body makes to support and carry sperm out of the body, but your semen won't contain any sperm.
You should wait until your doctor confirms that you are not ejaculating any sperm before having unprotected sex. This appointment will be part of the continuation of care from your vasectomy.
If I were reading this blog out loud, you would catch a tone of anger mixed with sarcasm because, for some reason, vasectomies are a secret, magic thing that we don't celebrate. And yet, we live in a society bending over backward to control female bodies. No abortion! No birth control! For the pro-lifers who want to end abortion, may I suggest you invest in a campaign to market vasectomies? The result would be a significant drop in unwanted pregnancies, ergo fewer abortions.