cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/29563625

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.”

    • Fuck spez@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      11·
      5 days ago

      Same. My shitty insurance even paid for every last dime of it. I guess they know as well as anyone how much kids cost.

  • slippery_salmonsEnglish
    121·
    5 days ago

    Got one beginning of this year. Still mild ball pain or discomfort sometimes. Still glad I did it.

    • nnullzz@lemmy.world
      11·
      5 days ago

      After almost a whole year you still get pain?! I don’t think that’s normal. It’s should be uncomfortable for maybe a couple months tops.

      • Sterile_Technique@lemmy.worldEnglish
        8·
        5 days ago

        About 1% of patients report post vasectomy pain syndrome - not common, but it can happen. If your urologist didn’t talk about that when discussing potential risks, that’s a huge red flag.

        On that note, reversal of a vasectomy (reanastomosis) has a relatively high chance to fail, so if any of you are considering one cuz it’s often pitched as something you can change your mind on later, I’d recommend some other method of birth control. Vasectomies should always be thought of as permanent; and reversals as a gamble.

        And on THAT note, they can go the complete opposite direction and reanastomose themselves cuz our bodies are assholes and seem to always do the thing we don’t want it to do. You should have follow up appointments to check your semen for swimmers - DO NOT skip those. You may even want to do them annually or something for the first few years after, but that’d be something to discuss with your doc.

        • nnullzz@lemmy.world
          1·
          5 days ago

          I had mine done a few years back so I don’t recall what was mentioned exactly. I had one of the best in town so I’m sure he said it at some point. It doesn’t hurt to ask the Dr though to make sure it not something else other than that pain syndrome.

    • BassTurd@lemmy.world
      7·
      5 days ago

      I had a sort of cramping sensation in one of my balls for a good year post surgery. The more active I was, the less bad it was. If I was active then not for more than a week, it would cramp in waves. It’s gone now, and I would happily do it all over again. Mild intermittent discomfort for a lifetime of peace of mind.

    • Glitch@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      3·
      5 days ago

      My right nut had pain for about 6 months, slowly going away after that. Good luck, hopefully it fades into history

    • TheFunkyMonk@lemmy.world
      1·
      4 days ago

      Damn, what procedure did you get? I had the no needle/scalpel procedure and was basically fine the next day. A couple minor moments of discomfort the first week, then smooth sailing from there.

  • shyguyblue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    121·
    5 days ago

    I’m a gay man(ish) working retail. The number of times I’ve thought about getting one from all the condom accidents running around…

    • Im_old@lemmy.world
      11·
      5 days ago

      Oh man, I would have imagined being gay accidentally making kids is one less thing to worry about? But if you occasionally dip in clam sauce, get one. You get someone else to jiggle your junk while doing casual conversation 😂

      • shyguyblue@lemmy.worldEnglish
        9·
        5 days ago

        Oh definitely less to worry about, but damn, the way these kids act, makes me want to get the snip in solidarity.

        • Hanrahan@slrpnk.netOPEnglish
          1·
          3 days ago

          but damn, the way these kids act, makes me want to get the snip in solidarity.

          True dat, you’d think that woukd put most people off kids.

          I had mine done 3 decades ago, slight pain but a bit better every day, 5 days after, all good.

      • SirSamuel@lemmy.world
        9·
        5 days ago

        You get someone else to jiggle your junk

        NGL I was so anxious leading up to the procedure I was basically inverted down there. My little dude straight up turtled himself into my pelvis. I mean, I’m a grower and all, but this was Scandinavian polar plunge levels of nope. I would have been embarrassed if I wasn’t so impressed with the amount of retreating that was happening