Mirena for me or Vasectomy for him?

[Anonymous]

I've had Mirena for 5 years -- so it's time to have it removed. I'm not very thrilled about having it removed and having a new one inserted. My husband is open to vasectomy - on the other hand, I've been happy not to have to buy tampons for 5 years. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I think what you need to ask yourself is "Am I ready to have NO MORE CHILDREN? My DH?" If the answer is a definite YES, go for the vasectomy. If there is ANY wavering or doubt, go back to the Mirena!

[Anonymous]

I totally agree about the tampon thing. We're not ready for hubby to have a vasectomy. He's young enough to want another child if I were to pass away and he met my replacement. I'm past that.

[Anonymous]

I didn't know Mirena had been around for five years!

But age definitely matters. If you get hit by a bus tomorrow, your husband will probably re-marry, and he will probably want to have kids with his new wife. If he's already in his 40s and knows for sure that no matter what happens, he doesn't want more babies, then I don't see why not.

(Friend of mine got a vasectomy after the birth of his second child... at 28! I think that's a little strange, for some reason.)

[Anonymous]

Don't forget there is ablation for heavy periods. If your DH had a vasectomy, you could have endo ablation and have no more heavy periods same as with the Mirena, but it's permanent.

[Anonymous]

Our circumstances are different, but as other posters have said, what if God forbid, you divorce, or one of you dies, or one of your children dies - are you sure you will not want to expand your family? I have no experience with Mirena, but it seems to be to be the better option - I am admittedly biased however. My Dh had one 15 years ago with his ex, since both agreed their single child was enough. He and met a couple years after they split, and it took us one $10k failed reversal, 5 years of trying to conceive, and $20k in not-covered-by-insurance-because-of-the-vasectomy IVF to get our wonderful - and probably only - child. If you do go the vasectomy route, PLEASE put some on ice just in case you change your mind.

[Anonymous]

OP here. You have all given me much to think about. I have no idea what endo ablation is, but I'll give that a look too. I think I'll go with Mirena again -- just in case. Thanks so much to all of you!