this post was submitted on 16 Dec 2024
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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."

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[–] [email protected] 74 points 5 days ago

I've decided I don't want to have kids at all.

My wife is taking it better than my son and daughter are.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

I got one because the idea of having kids has always filled me with a keen sense of dread. Any time I hear that someone is expecting a child my first thought is "oh no I'm so sorry" before saying the expected congratulations.

Both my partner and I don't like or want kids, why risk accidents happening?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 4 days ago

More people seem to be choosing child free living because of the state of the world and economy rn. I don't blame them.

Get pets like me!

[–] [email protected] 27 points 4 days ago (7 children)

I bet they don't get the same amount a shit a childless woman would going in to get her tubes tied.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

The female procedure is a lot more invasive than the male procedure. That's why I had mine done instead of my wife undergoing the surgery.

.

And, yes I do realize that's not the point you were trying to make. But it is a factor.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 4 days ago

The factor is the self appointed managers of women's biology. They don't want them women to steal kids from some future man. This is the basic line fed a woman I knew who wanted to be sterilized since her family carried the genes for a deadly dehumanizing genetic disease and some shithead doctor told her she was selfish for not wanting her future man to have a choice about kids. She left the southern us and went up north to get he procedure done. When she returned she found a new doctor. This was over twenty years ago. Long before this latest batch of idiots.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

I’ve (27m) been told no by multiple doctors. So, sorta? Granted. Last time I tried I was 24 but I hasn’t been easy. Maybe it would be now. I stopped trying.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days ago) (1 children)

Weird, you need to find yourself a new doctor. I got mine at 23 and the first time I ever spoke to any doctor that seemed like they were against it was actually only a few months ago, I'm 28 now. Even then they didn't really seem like they were against it so much as they didn't seem to understand why anyone would want one so young.

When I first asked my gen prac about getting snipped he said it was a little unusual for someone as young as me but he said that while actively putting in the referal so it isn't like he was trying to talk me out of it. At the urologist he just asked the standard quick questions of "you understand that it is permanent?" And " you're sure?". Then he put me on a table and got to work.

As a humerous side note, there is one thing I didn't like about getting mine done so young. My urologist (and likely urologists in general) are used to performing vasectomies on much older guys who have a fair bit more scrotal droop to work with. Young perky me didn't have that much droop. It also didn't help that the sterilizing wash the sadists used was ice cold and the room where it was done was freezing. So my poor frozen bits were trying to ascend to party with my tonsils meanwhile this doctor was pulling on them like they were excalibur and he was itching to be crowned king of england just to try and get some slack to work with. Definitely did not enjoy that part. Still worth it though.

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[–] [email protected] 96 points 5 days ago (8 children)

This is what happens when the conservatives threaten the right to an abortion. Drastic measures have to be taken.

No kid should be born unloved or a woman have her life threatened because too many ignorant folks think she is sinful for getting healthcare or evil for not raising more wage slaves for the bourgeoisie.

[–] [email protected] 28 points 5 days ago (2 children)

I disagree but unless we get actual data on why people are choosing not to have kids then we don't really know for sure.

I'd say the major reason is wealth inequality, cost of living, inflation, housing prices, etc. Everything's too expensive... everything. It's getting to the point that life isn't even worth living anymore, as its just a repetitive cycle to work and pay bills. I both can't afford to have a kid, nor would I want to bring one into this hellscape.

Again no way to know the real reasons unless we get the data.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (1 children)

It's money first and foremost. People are struggling to survive by themselves. They can't afford kids. So conservatives get rid of abortion. They frame it as a religious issue, but it's only such for their ignorant followers. For those monied individuals at the top its purely about having an ever growing slave caste to exploit. Can't have infinitely growing profits without an infinitely growing base of suckers to sell shit to.

It's also about freedom. Self determination. And the general state of the world. Nothing of substance is being done about climate change. We're staring down the barrel of WWIII. Late Stage capitalism.

It's a confluence of factors that taken together paint a particularly bleak future.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 5 days ago

Im planning on getting one soon, and it's definitely this for me.

Also I tend to believe climate scientists who say shit is going to get interesting within the next 20 years.. not really something I'd feel good about bringing a kid into.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 5 days ago

One data point and I'm American, but figured I'd give my two cents on why I did it.

In addition to all the reasons you listed I think that my own mental health is an obstacle, and also the increasingly limited access to women's healthcare.

Making the decision to not have kids was a complex issue for me as I imagine it is for others too. Tbh the political and economic climate was probably the final push I needed, but there's probably at least 10 reasons in total.

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[–] [email protected] 72 points 5 days ago (2 children)

When animals are over stressed, unable to provide the basics of survival, and constantly dealing with external threats they tend to not have babies.

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[–] [email protected] 63 points 5 days ago (10 children)

Why would I force another human into this shitty existence?

Also condoms suck and raw dick is just better.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 days ago

yea same. condoms suck.

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[–] [email protected] 22 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I think this is a great thing to see happening. Men are taking birth control into their own hands. Why take the risk of an unwanted pregnancy? Sometimes other methods fail.

The peace of mind must be amazing too

[–] [email protected] 5 points 4 days ago (2 children)

Being trapped by a woman is not even a crime no matter how bad the facts are, including rape.

Society views men as nothing more than ATM in such cases. Should wraped it up twice lol

So good for them!

Better safe than sorry.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 5 days ago (18 children)
  • No right to abortion in the United States
  • Giving someone who didn't get asked or consent to being born, the forced existence of life.
  • A child for a parent is expensive, mentally draining, and you have to be a good parent
  • You also have to be the parent for a child with any special needs, from allergies to mental issues to being born without limbs
  • If the child is any form of "other" to society, they will be picked on, and then possible harmed by the rise of Neo-Fascism
  • Work or starve, work or be cold, work until you die. Another tax number, another corporate slave.

Being born is fine, once you're here you should try to live life to its fullest. But I don't want kids, I would be a horrid father.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 5 days ago

Let's not forget about child care, cause you know, in this economy both parents typically need to work to keep their heads financially above water.

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[–] [email protected] 52 points 5 days ago (9 children)

I’m sorry, there is an international chat group where a bunch of doctors that perform vasectomies congregate and talk about vasectomies?

[–] [email protected] 39 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Gotta share the best practices, its like the postmarket os matrix chat where tech enthusiasts support each other improving builds ;)

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I mean, yeah, why not? There are international whatevers for almost anything, specially professional practices. It's less cumbersome and cheaper than relying on regulatory bodies to organize and run conventions or seminars. Most of these chats are informal and born from that kind of events as well.

Something I also learned from working with the health sector is that there are really very few 100% dedicated to their niche specialists in every area. Sure, there are many heart surgeons, but very few experts on ventricular septal defect surgery on children. And some of that stuff can be so complex as to be a sole area of dedicated study. It allows these kind of informal forums and encourages a strong mentor-apprentice dynamics. So it is not rare they hit the group chat every once in a while. I also learned there are over a dozen different ways to make a vasectomy procedure and some doctors know how to do a few but not all of them and there are reasons to prefer some over the others depending on the patient.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 5 days ago

Welcome to the Internet - you're new here, I take it?

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[–] [email protected] 34 points 5 days ago (2 children)

Continue not taxing the rich and making conditions worse for the 99%. Let's see how it works out.

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[–] [email protected] 40 points 5 days ago (1 children)

This is what happens when you can't afford raising kids and also more and more people decide that they would rather just enjoy their life without the responsibility or or financial burden of raising kids. I don't know how i feel about this due to the our birth rate not doing so well, and instead of people having children, we have to import people into the country (which i have no problem with but that really isn't a solution).

[–] [email protected] 18 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago) (12 children)

that really isn't a solution

why not? are you afraid of johnny whitebread "real" ~~murican~~ canadian getting....replaced?

the fact that the 1% is shitting their pants over the declining birthrate makes me think it's fan fucking tastic. every industry's profit margin suffers from fewer babies. less money is spent on food, gas, clothes, giant SUVs, toys, medicine--literally everything you buy for yourself, you're also buying for your kids for 18 years. unless you don't have kids.

those poor, poor shareholders.

fuck them. low birthrate = GOOD.

also, please--who wants to have a kid just so they can explain to them why they're growing up in a toxic wasteland?

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[–] [email protected] 25 points 5 days ago (19 children)

Can anyone here who's gotten one comment on the vasectomy process? I've been pretty nervous seeing a lot of the comments about it. I don't even do well with a normal blood draw. I feel like I'd need general anesthesia for this.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

I've never had kids. Got it done down in TX. Told the doc I've never wanted them and didn't want to pay for anymore abortions.

I did it fully conscious with local anesthesia because I had no one to pick me up and look after me if I took the knockout gas. There were a couple tiny pricks of pain next to the base of my penis, then numbness. An unpleasant tugging sensation in each testicle when he positioned my vas deferens to cut, cauterize, and clamp the ends. That was the worst part, but like I say, it didn't hurt. Aside from that, I nervously wisecracked with the nurses, who politely laughed and joked back. Then I put my pants back on, paid the bill (ouch!), drove myself home, and spent the weekend getting high and playing video games with frozen gel packs under my balls. All that felt like was the dull tenderness you get a little while after a blow to the junk. Totally manageable. I took some Advil or something.

Against advice, I returned to my strenuous job 3 or 4 days afterwards, and jerked off repeatedly much sooner than suggested. I've experienced zero complications, but ymmv. Taking my wisdom teeth out was much worse. Getting a tattoo is far more painful. It was a bit worse than getting my ears pierced, but healed faster.

8/10 Would totally repeat the experience just for the days off with zero responsibilities. My only regret is I didn't do it at 18.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

Was really nbd. Gave me a local. Felt no pain at the time. Spent the next day in bed with ice on it. A little soreness, cleared up quickly. Way better than a kidneystone, fwiw.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 5 days ago (8 children)

No kids, never wanted them, made sure I never have them. Happily married for 8 years, she never wants kids either.

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[–] [email protected] 19 points 5 days ago

Here's the thing about abortion in Canada ...

  • the right to abortion is not codified in law: the SCoC struck down the laws against abortion in 1988 based on our 1982 Charter of Rights
  • abortion is technically legal under the federal Health Act
  • this is why the Cons have stated they don't want to challenge women's ability to have an abortion ... because if they did in court, and it went to SCoC, the court could (and likely would) force the Con gov't to enact actual legislation forever enshrining abortion rights in Canadian law
  • the Cons, just like the GOP down south, are hoping to have enough power at some time to force change here -- but the problem is our SCoC works differently than SCOTUS (ie: zero judges are elected in Canada, ever); SCoC rulings are not based on original intent (and our Charter is vastly newer than America's founding documents); etc.
[–] [email protected] 19 points 5 days ago (9 children)

I'm doing my part.

But seriously, men should be more responsible when it comes to birth control and not leave it up to women, so I think this is a good thing.

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