Our last article, Three Cost Benefits of a Vasectomy reviews the concepts of time and money, convenience, and ease of the procedure, as overwhelmingly beneficial. But how does a vasectomy specifically stack up to the female equivalent birth control methods: Tubal Ligation? Read on for 3 great reasons vasectomy trumps tubal ligation.
The Vasectomy Procedure
A vasectomy is a quick, relatively painless, surgical procedure that is a permanent method of birth control. For all the details on the procedure, read The Vasectomy Procedure which will get you caught up to speed on all the ins and outs of the process so you can feel comfortable before proceeding with such a helpful step.
#1 of 3 great reasons vasectomy trumps tubal ligation—the procedure itself
How does a vasectomy procedure compare to a tubal ligation surgery in regards to the procedure itself? The first thing to consider perhaps is that one procedure is actually an out-patient procedure that takes less than 30 minutes and one is a surgery that may require an over-night stay in the hospital. Yes, it’s the vasectomy that is more simple.
Logically, the procedure itself is also much more simple. The vasectomy, as you may have read, involves only a tiny incision with local anesthesia to allow the vas deferens to be transected at the base of the scrotum. Conversely, a tubal ligation surgery, while it only involves two small incisions, is still often performed under general anesthesia, and therefore carries all the risks associated with a major surgery. The recovery period is approximately the same, with about a day’s rest to resume normal activities, but while men say the procedure is relatively painless, women have indicted that the recovery is actually rather painful.
#2 of 3 great reasons vasectomy trumps tubal ligation—the money
Let’s face it. When we’re thinking about our health, our future, our family, we’d all love to say that money is no object. But for most of us, the impact on a bank account is a consideration when making these decisions.
A vasectomy can cost up to around a thousand dollars, depending on your choice of doctor, type of procedure and whether your insurance will cover part of the costs.
Contrarily, tubal ligation can cost up to around $6000, again, depending on the doctor, the type of procedure and whether your insurance will help you.
At 6 times the cost, that’s some serious money.
#3 of 3 great reasons vasectomy trumps tubal ligation: permanence
Vasectomy and Tubal Ligation are both considered permanent methods of pregnancy prevention because neither can be reversed without surgery. However, tubal ligation reversal is sometimes considered impossible, based on the method of sterilization. Additionally, the process to reverse a tubal ligation is complex and there’s no guarantee that you will be successful in becoming pregnant after the surgery. Women under 35 have only around a 70 percent chance of pregnancy after a reversal.
Vasectomy reversals are far more common and far more effective, with an up to 90 percent effective rate after the procedure.
Summing it up
The bottom line is, vasectomy has far more benefits than a tubal ligation. The procedure is far simpler with a quicker recovery time. The cost of a vasectomy averages more than six times less than a tubal ligation. And, should you want to reverse your procedure, you’ll find the same is true on all counts. The reversal is far more difficult for tubal ligation and it costs more. And after all that, the likelihood of achieving pregnancy after a vasectomy reversal is greater than tubal ligation as well.
Looking for more Information?
Want to know more?
Here is a great article on the pros and cons of tubal ligation that also explains the procedure quite well: The Pros and Cons of Tubal Ligation.
If you are looking for a practice that can answer any questions about vasectomy, Dr. Sussman, of Las Vegas Vasectomy, prides himself of the personal care that his office provides his patients, including personal text conversations. He has offices in Las Vegas, NV; Lake Havasu City, AZ; Reno, NV; St. George, UT; and Kingman, AZ.
