There comes a time in every couples relationship when the no longer want to grow their family by having more children.  The decision to not have any more children does not mean a decision to not have any more sex.  With sex, however, there is always a risk no matter how careful you are.
To help minimize that risk so that a couple can continue to enjoy intimacy without worry about unintentional impregnation, a number of long-term and permanent sterilization techniques are available.  Most of the options are available for female contraception, with few options being open to men.  However, the male vasectomy remains one of the most common and effective means of male sterilization extant.

The Male Options

As any man knows, the options for male birth control are extremely limited.  There is the condom, which offers only a moderate chance of protection and success.  Condom’s are prone to breakage and may completely fail in their purpose at any time.  They don’t afford the user much of a sense of real security and they can diminish sensation during sex.
The only other option available to men is the withdrawal method.  This method of birth control is even less effective than condoms.  Since semen can exist even in the ejaculate fluid that escapes during arousal and assists in lubrication (often referred to as “pre-cum”), there is no assurance that pulling out at the moment of climax will be sufficient.
Only the vasectomy provides the assurance of near 100% effectiveness.  With a vasectomy there is no worry about whether the female forgot to take her oral contraceptive.  There is no worry about a condom breaking, nor is there the loss of sensation.  Vasectomies provide almost total protection within monogamous relationships.  The vasectomy cannot protect against STDs that may be contracted from the practice of having unprotected sex with multiple partners.

The Female Options

The options available to females are often less effective, more subject to human error and have a greater number of side effect than a vasectomy.  Pills can be accidentally forgotten, implants can go bad, and diaphragms can fail.  Hormonal birth control can have a major effect on females as well and is not always well received by the female body.
The only near comparable surgery for females can also have serious side effects and requires a much more invasive and risky form of surgery.  This surgery requires a much greater recovery time before being able to return to normal daily and sexual activity.  Given the choice, most men would much prefer to have the very simple process of a vasectomy performed than to put their loved one at risk.

The Choice

The decision to get a vasectomy should not be taken lightly.  It is a permanent procedure and, as such, should be considered with great care and discussed between partners.  Only if both of the partners are certain that they don’t desire to have any more children should a vasectomy be undertaken.