Updated March 2023
I have been with my girlfriend for just over two years, we have been having sex for a rather long time, we have tried a variety of different contraceptives, but after a rather lengthy conversation with her, we both are firm in our decision for me to get a Vasectomy. I am certain that at no point in my life will i desire to bring a child into this world, at least not one that is genetically related to me. I have a decent amount of $ so i could easily afford the opperation on my own. The only problem remaining is that i am 16, i am of legal age to give concent, but im not sure if thats enough to allow me to get the opperation without my parents consent. Obviously this isn’t something i would like to reveal to my parents. What should i do?
Legally, the youngest you can get a vasectomy is between 16 and 18 years old, depending on the laws in your state. At federally-funded health centers, you must be at least 21.
But most nurses and doctors won’t do vasectomies for people that young, even if it’s legal. Sterilization can be hard to get if you’re under 35, especially if you’re single or don’t already have kids.
Vasectomies aren’t generally recommended for teens because they’re meant to be permanent. Reversing a vasectomy is very expensive and it doesn’t always work. It’s totally possible for a young person who doesn’t want kids now to change their mind later in life — in fact, it happens a lot.
In the meantime, if you want to avoid pregnancy, talk with your partner about birth control, and support them in using their method of choice, so you can both be a part of preventing unintended pregnancy.
Tags: vasectomy, birth control, sterilization