PILLARS

My Vasectomy

In the spring of 1978 I had a vasectomy, basically because (1) I did not want to father a child, (2) I wanted consequence-free sex, and (3) I was tired of using condoms. I just wanted to slip it in, come, and forget it. [sounds familiar... -Ed.] If you got a rash from a partner, you got a shot (two if the disease strain was from southeast Asia) and that was it. At that time herpes and genital warts were the only specifically sexually transmitted diseases that were incurable, and while they were inconvenient, they were not deadly.

Twice before I had had girlfriends who had been "late." Initially I had some "warm and fuzzy" feelings about it. Luckily the women menstruated and I came to my senses, seeing this for the sick and twisted thinking it was. I did not want the responsibility, I don't like kids, and wouldn't be a good parent. Also I realized on a rational level the consequences to the Earth, and it was no burden to do my bit.

The vasectomy was done on an out-patient basis at Harvard Community Health. Before the procedure my girlfriend and I were interviewed by the surgeon. This was done to ensure that our motivation was appropriate. It was a short meeting. We convinced him we were rational people who didn't want to be parents. Of course, I didn't ask him why the health plan didn't interview aspiring parents to check their suitability. Maybe I didn't think of it.

As I recall, the procedure was performed on a Friday morning, so that I could recover over the weekend. I shaved my genitals the evening before. A local anesthetic was used. The same surgeon who had interviewed me performed the vasectomy. He was a youngish, gray-haired Irishman who tried to talk sports while working, but I was trying to read to keep my mind off the procedure. I did not look, as blood, particularly my own, distresses me, never mind the tubes and stuff down there. He had some trouble locating the tubes on one side, and had to hurry to finish up the second side before the anesthetic wore off. A probing sensation was all I noticed. It didn't hurt with any intensity, but I do remember that one of my balls became swollen to three times its normal size. The other one, at least relatively, seemed normal. The only serious pain I recall was the first time I came after the operation. I was advised to wait three days before sex, which advice, my eyes on my swollen ball, I adhered to. The pain was a sharp defined sensation in one ball that soon receded. Overall I was mostly stiff and mildly sore. In a couple of weeks, I felt normal.

As far as long term effects, I have not seen any increase or decrease in my sex drive. Psychologically, I might be more relaxed in a situation where pregnancy could occur. The only physical difference I have noticed is the color of my dried come. Before, if I missed a spot cleaning up, it tended to dry yellow; any spots I find now seem to be clearer.