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[reigningfish]

I've been thinking pretty hard about getting a vasectomy? I'm happily married, I've got three kids, and I'm 40 years old. Honestly, I don't really want any more children, but I don't want to sin either.

Does anyone have a biblical basis for believing that getting a vasectomy is a sin?

 

[TrustingWife]

Does God say anywhere that it is okay?

He does say that it is He, and He alone, who opens and closes the womb.

Have you researched the negative side effects?

dontfixit.org

Praying for you

 

[reigningfish]

Does God say anywhere that it is okay?

Well, God doesn't say its OK to build airplanes, drive cars, or go beneath the sea in submarines either... all of which are pretty unnatural. So, I'm not sure God's silence on a medical procedure that didn't exist in Bible times is a good argument.

He does say that it is He, and He alone, who opens and closes the womb.

I'm finding plenty of verses that speak of God opening and closing wombs. However, I'm not finding anything that indicates it is wrong to decide you've got all the kids you need. In fact, the Song of Solomon seems to indicate that lovemaking can be done for pleasure too. But if you have any bible verses, I'm interested.

Have you researched the negative side effects?

Somewhat. But I've never heard of that post vasectomy pain syndrome! Interesting link.

 

[katautumn]

Psalm 127:3
"Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward."

Granted, I don't think this verse is saying birth control is sinful, but please make sure this is a decision you don't enter into lightly. How will this impact your wife? My husband had a vasectomy before we met. Like you, he had a child already and was approaching forty. I also had a child from a previous relationship and had decided I did not want any more children. I felt this way for years, until I realized menopause would hit me before I knew it and I would never have a child with my husband. My husband regrets his vasectomy, but a reversal is expensive and risky, so we've decided it's not the best option. It doesn't negate the fact that one decision altered the course of our lives permanently.

Please understand that even though the procedure is reversible it should be considered permanent. Don't enter into the decision lightly. Consider it prayerfully with your wife and weigh all of the potential risks and consequences.

 

[127.0.0.1]

Deleted.

 

[moonkitty]

He does say that it is He, and He alone, who opens and closes the womb.

Last time I check men don't have wombs.

 

[SmileAndAHandshake]

Blind post.

My husband's had the procedure, we are child-free.

There is no biblical basis whatsoever for or against it. It's a personal choice. The only "biblical basis" that people will come up with are lines they will twist one way or another to support their argument, but the Bible is actually silent. If there were any information in it for or against, it would be something quite cultural for the time: Remember that when the Bible was written, Christian families really had a higher importance on child-rearing because it was foundational for the survival of the faith itself in a time of persecution. Today, that simply isn't the case. Besides, you've already made your "contribution" to society

Do yourself a favor and just make up your own mind about it, between you, your wife, and God.

 

[katautumn]

Last time I check men don't have wombs.

LOL And God help us if they did. I can't imagine a man in childbirth or having a menstrual period. Sorry, guys.

I got to thinking about this statement that God opens and closes the womb, since it's commonly used to decry married couples controlling their reproduction. The Bible only mentions God closing the womb in situations to describe a woman's barrenness. It doesn't necessarily mean that we're not supposed to use birth control, nor do I think it means God supernaturally makes the woman's uterus a hostile environment for a fertilized egg at times in which He feels the woman shouldn't have a child and supernaturally allows implantation if He feels it's the right time. It means that God created those women, for whatever reason, with wombs unable to carry a child. Or, at some point in their life, they experienced infertility.

The Bible also says there were times in which after a season of infertility He would open the womb of the woman to bear a child that would play a significant role in Bible history. He opened the womb of Sarah in her old age. He opened the womb of Hannah. He opened the womb of Elisabeth. I don't think this means God doesn't want us to use common sense.

 

[Romanseight2005]

It's just such a permanent decision. That alone wold make me hesitant. I think it would be very difficult for me to get a hysterectomy, and I think I could only do it if I had no choice.(cancer) It just seems like it's taking away God's choice of child bearing, you know? I would not go so far as to say it's sinful. but I would definitely have issues with it. I can only suggest a lot of prayer, and don't do anything until God's peace shows you what to do with absolute clarity.

 

[Hosannainthehighest]

Ill just add my bit...for what it's worth. I am not sure if it's up to us to have or not have children, and how we might go about that. I could not tamper with my body and have an operation to stop having children, neither did I use any birth control. I didnt want to put any foreign thing in my body including pills...
Having said all of this, my husband had a vasectomy. It was not a source of moral dilemma for him, so it was not an issue. I felt that I did not have to wrestle with the rights and wrongs of the subject, as it wasnt me doing it.
I am glad that my husband did have an operation, and i'm glad that he is at peace about his decision, and i am at peace about mine.
I dont think it's something that you can do if it bothers your conscience. If however you are ok with the decision, then go ahead. It can be very beneficial.

 

[reigningfish]

I appreciate all the feedback!

It seems like the consensus is...

1. It's pretty much a permanent alteration, and one should give careful thought before doing it.

2. It's probably not a sin.

I'm still in the process of thinking it through.

 

[127.0.0.1]

Deleted.

 

[Psalm63]

What does your wife think?

Having a vasectomy would be sin if you did so without your wife's whole-hearted blessing and agreement. (1 Cor 7:4) Otherwise, I don't see any biblical prohibition (they used to make eunuchs back in Jesus' day and He did not condemn the practice Matt 19:12).

 

[peteos]

I simply don't find any biblical basis against using birth control. Vasectomy is the cheapest and most effective form of birth control. It is probably also the safest, though I haven't seen any studies comparing it to long term use of birth control pills. It is also permanent, or at least should be considered so. Reversals are painful, expensive, not covered by insurance, and don't always work.

There are rare side effects, most of them mild and temporary (I sound like a commercial), check with your doctor It is in general considered one of the simplest and safest operations there is.

I think the biggest issue is whether you are certain you will not desire children in the future. Obviously only you will know about that, though the fact that you are forty doesn't make me think you're likely to change your mind.

I had a Vasectomy at 26. I had no complications and have never regretted my decision for a single day.

 

[ido]

I don't see anything wrong with a vas. My hubby will be getting one sometime this year, probably. I have two children from my first marriage and we are expecting a baby in May. He has told me that he does not want anymore children and, well, I'm not getting any younger, so I'm fine with his decision. lol

 

[SmileAndAHandshake]

I simply don't find any biblical basis against using birth control. Vasectomy is the cheapest and most effective form of birth control. It is probably also the safest, though I haven't seen any studies comparing it to long term use of birth control pills. It is also permanent, or at least should be considered so. Reversals are painful, expensive, not covered by insurance, and don't always work.

There are rare side effects, most of them mild and temporary (I sound like a commercial), check with your doctor It is in general considered one of the simplest and safest operations there is.

I think the biggest issue is whether you are certain you will not desire children in the future. Obviously only you will know about that, though the fact that you are forty doesn't make me think you're likely to change your mind.

I had a Vasectomy at 26. I had no complications and have never regretted my decision for a single day.

Sounds advice I rarely see people as young as us who have had a procedure like this done .. It's nice to hear from another. My husband had his vasectomy shortly before he turned 23 (last year). Did the doctor fuss with you about your age? They made mine wait 6 to 12 months after the initial appointment "Just to think it over", ugh Yes, we're sure. YES, we know it's permanent, urgh...

The reason we chose Vas over tubal was because of how incredibly safe vasectomies are in comparison to tubal is for women... and DH's was a no-scalpel procedure too, so he didn't even have any stitches. He was able to drive himself home and everything. It's incredible what they can do now, and it is very routine.

But yes, it is something you (the OP) should obviously think about carefully before getting it done. It's just a responsible and informed choice one way or the other, like any other in life. "Wrongness" or "sinfulness" is only perceived and presented by other people who have trouble understanding the "why" behind someone actually wanting to have a permanent procedure like this done. It's natural for people to set up a position against things they don't understand I guess .. but that doesn't make it wrong. It's still all about a personal choice.

 

[Romanseight2005]

Please make sure your wife is wholeheartedly in agreement though. Even if she had small doubts and you did it, it could be many years of regret for her, which would cause deep problems in the marriage.

 

[peteos]

Did the doctor fuss with you about your age?

Not really. There was a notable pause and facial expression change when I first spoke of it. He asked me if I had any children (we had just had our second) and how old she was. When I mentioned she was 5 months old he made a comment that I was "in the thick of it", namely that this was the hardest time and that it might be influencing my decision (and when she is older I might change my mind). But that was it, after that he explained the procedure, gave me a Valium to take the morning of, and sent me off to think about it. I did wait about a month to finally schedule the appointment and the earliest opening was another 2 months so about three months past before the day of. We were only more sure by that point.

 

[SmileAndAHandshake]

Not really. There was a notable pause and facial expression change when I first spoke of it. He asked me if I had any children (we had just had our second) and how old she was. When I mentioned she was 5 months old he made a comment that I was "in the thick of it", namely that this was the hardest time and that it might be influencing my decision (and when she is older I might change my mind). But that was it, after that he explained the procedure, gave me a Valium to take the morning of, and sent me off to think about it. I did wait about a month to finally schedule the appointment and the earliest opening was another 2 months so about three months past before the day of. We were only more sure by that point.

Makes sense.

They most likely fussed with us more since we have no children Actually our family doctor was fairly understanding. We went to him first and gave all our reasons flat out and asked for a referral, and we were afraid that he'd be the one to tell us "you're too young, you'll change your minds, etc" but instead he treated us fairly, said that we had obviously done the research and thought it over carefully, and he was more than happy to refer us to the best.

However, it was the actual vasectomy clinic that gave us a bit of run-around with "take time to think it over"

All's well that ends well, though! It got done in the end.

 

[ido]

Agreed that it needs to be a mutual decision b/w the husband and the wife. It's actually pretty ironic for my H, since he was told about 5 years ago by a fertility doc that he wasn't able to have kids. Now, we have one on the way and he's gonna be scheduling a vas. God works in mysterious ways!