Man shares vasectomy story and shows how easy it is for men to help with birth control

A 23-year-old man from Texas opened up about getting a vasectomy and shared how easy it is for men to help with birth control, especially given the painful and traumatic options available to women. Keith Laue, a content creator, posted a video explaining how he got a vasectomy, in the hope of inspiring more men to do the same. A vasectomy is a form of birth control that cuts the supply of sperm to your semen. It's done by cutting and sealing the tubes that carry sperm, according to Mayo Clinic. Vasectomies are reversible, and while they do not offer protection against sexually transmitted infections, they are nearly 100% effective in preventing pregnancy. The video posted by Laue went viral and garnered more than 3.1 million views and 601,000 likes. The video raised awareness about vasectomies and also sparked a debate on sexism in the healthcare industry. 

"So, I got a vasectomy a couple of weeks ago, and I wanted to walk y'all through the process, just in case you were considering getting one yourself," said Laue in the video, before explaining the process of arranging for the procedure. "It started with a phone consultation. It was super easy. They set the appointment for a couple of weeks out. They answered any questions I had," he said. Laue said the procedure didn't take longer than 15 minutes. "On that day, I got valium for anxiety. Walking in, I got local anesthesia. I was awake the whole time for the procedure, which was weird but it only lasted 10-15 minutes. It wasn't that bad."

Laue further explained that he was asked to take a rest for a week before being able to do everything he had done earlier. "I basically didn't really work out for a week. The first three days, I used a lot of heavy ibuprofen, icing. Didn't really move much, but after that, I was pretty good to go and do everything," he said. Laue said he shared his story after learning of the recent Supreme Court judgment on abortion. "Following the overturning of Roe V. Wade, I'm way more confident in this decision than ever. I think as men it's time we start to support women and share the weight of birth control. I know the thought of getting your nads snipped can be really anxiety-inducing but it's way less nerve-wracking than an unwanted pregnancy," he concluded. 

Many lauded Keith Laue for getting a vasectomy, others noted from his experience that women weren't afforded half the care, precaution or accommodations made for men. "I bet you they didn’t require a psych evaluation and partners signature like they do if I wanted my tubes tied either," commented one person and Laue responded, "My girlfriend was so pissed. Literally just a virtual consult and then the procedure. It’s unfair how easy it is for men." After Laue said he was given anesthesia and his whole procedure was painless, another responded, "It’s infuriating to hear how much they accommodated you for your procedure! My IUD insertion was such a painful & traumatic experience. Can’t relate." Another person pointed out the sexism in the reactions to a man getting a vasectomy. "Funny how nobody is commenting about him maybe wanting kids in the future or he’ll regret it blah blah….women get remarks like that all the time," wrote one person and he responded, "That’s a good point although I have had my fair share in this comment section but waaay less."

He also posted a second video explaining why he got a vasectomy at the age of 23. "I'm young but I'm also a full-fledged adult and have been for a while. I'm also a Dad. Lily is three. My partner and I have had plenty of time to talk about whether we want another kid. We have plenty of experience at this point. There are a number of flawed assumptions that are made when the statement that I'm too young to get a vasectomy is made. Wanting to have a child is the right thing and if you don't want one, you're wrong or immature until you do want one. As a parent, one of the things that is not being talked about enough is how easy it is to lose oneself when caring for a little one. My partner and I have been lucky that we have a lot of support systems. Lily is old enough to go to Montessori and to summer school which has given us more time to rediscover who we are and explore things that we like and even work more. That's a luxury that a lot of people don't have and I don't think forcing the situation of parenthood on people is the right way to approach it," he said.