ummm, i didn't know there was such a thing as a reversal, and also, I don't think any 13 or 14 year old will want to get a vasectomy

Appreciate the comment. Yes, vasectomies are reversible. The longer you go on without the reversal, the less likely it becomes that they can reverse it. However, the site also stated: "If a man has had a failed vasectomy reversal, it is reasonable to have a repeat reversal surgery. These can often be successful." So you might wait until a kid shows first signs of sexual activity to delay as long as possible.

The other understandable part is that young men would not want to do this. I agree with you, it would be a hard sell. But it could be accomplished. A public service announcement campaign would be needed and girls would have to be taught that you don't date a guy who has not had the procedure. It would be unacceptable for a girl to go out with a guy who would not do it. This information campaign and change in attitudes among young women would help insure lots of guys would do it. A young male person might have trouble with this idea, it seems pretty radical, but if you were to study the incredible impact unplanned pregnancy has on society and most importantly on the child that is brought into this world who can ultimately suffer. An abortion can have a very strong impact on a woman also. Plus side effects from birth controls. Take a moment to read the potential side effects for women on birth control; I would not want to take any medication with those possible side effects. I feel like guys should step up to the plate on this matter and do what I consider to be "the right thing." And I believe it could be accomplished with a massive media campaign and a slow change in attitudes. SS

OK, I know this is old, but you are honestly saying you think making it free to get the big snip will keep young kids from having babies?!?! I think free birth control and free condoms are a good solution, and it already exsists... and they dont use them!!! Further more, it would be the more... well inteligent ones that would subscribe to this method, not the ones who you are targeting anyhow. If free condoms and free birth control didnt work how in the world do you think free surgery would?!

The reason I think so is because theoretically it is the perfect birth control. The guy doesn't have to wear an obtrusive device and the woman does not have to put a myriad of different chemicals, with a slew of sordid side effects, into her body (maybe even his body in the near future). You can't forget to wear your vasectomy, its always there, and you can't forget to take your vasectomy, it is always there. Condoms can be lost or forgotten, pills can be lost or forgotten or even not taken intentionally as one partner decides they are ready for a child before the other person. Anyone who has experienced the same activity with and without a contraceptive knows it is much better without the contraceptive. Now, my only concern at this point is that I have heard the ability to reverse a vasectomy successfully diminishes the more time that goes by. If so then this whole idea is out the window, but if reversals can be done more reliably than they could be at first, then this is a very solid idea with radical implications to the birth control industry. The link to my website page about this follows, and shows a lot of the side effects one can experience with birth control medication. Have a look if you've not already. http://www.sshep.com/PregnantBabies.htm The other issue is about getting boys to do it. My proposal is that it be taught and embedded in parents and schools minds. Girls should basically be raised to believe you should not be physical with any guy who has not had it done. They would not feel any need to carry contraceptives or take birth control pills, they know any guy they are with will be without need for anything coming between them or their health. SS

To lower the occurances of teen pregnancy is a good intention, but if this plan was in effect, many teens wouldn't learn to be as responsible as they might be if they knew that their actions have consequences. Anybody can remove all the fatty foods from their house, making it impossible to eat them, but to live with temptation and resist successfully makes one a stronger person. Not to say that you should be constantly surrounded by temptation. I just believe it would affect a young person's character to tell them that an operation is the magic key to free sex without consequences. So your idea probably could work for specific individuals, but I'm not sure it would be great as a universal system.

This same logic has come up on my personal site where I am dual presenting this idea. As stated for the other person, we have to be careful not to try and use the threat of pregnancy as a means of making kids behave responsibly. One innocent life is at stake and frequently two young persons lives are negatively affected as well. We as a society can't put things like this in the path of people and hope for the best. Too many babies are in foster homes because teen parents couldn't stand the heat of passion. They used paraquat on marijuana in the '70's and after making a bunch of people sick they stopped. I guess to suppress rampant abuse of pain medication, they have put Tylenol in a great many of them, to keep people from abusing them I guess but now they have a flood of liver failure cases and ruined lives. So do we apply the same logic towards innocent children coming into the world to 12, 13 and 14 year old mothers, for the sake of trying to keep them moral? I am pretty heavily medicated right now by my docs so apologize for typos or a negative response. I do appreciate your thoughts and I do believe it helps us to fully analyze this idea. For each person that writes in at least 20 think about doing the same so it helps to explore the concept. SS

Although it seems to me a vital and unnecessary invasion by government control to play games with the future fertility of boys, the strongest argument against this is that it is quite common for teen-age girls to be impregnated by older men and not infrequently by family members. Doubtlessly teen-age boys are frequently involved but that's not the entire problem.

I think it is a great idea, but should be taken one step further, and regulated. I think Every boy born withing the parameters of the United States, when the receive their circumsision, should also receive a vasectomy, this would allow assistance in population growth reduction, parenting being allocated to those who become educated on how to raise children, what the positive and negative factors are in-utero, and the many other factors people need to know when raising children, or making choices in life that effect others in such a substancial way as to give birth to them and raise them. I teach school, and I run across many many parents that aren't parents, they shouldn't have had kids, it would also eliminate needs for abortions based on unwanted children, and eliminate the unwanted pregnancies, that are both rampant in the United States. THese should be free services offered, and classes as well for educating people wanting to become parents.Ben

I have always felt that people should be licensed to be parents, just as they are licensed to do most things which require maturity and responsibility. Convicted criminals, drug addicts, the insane, the retarded, etc, would not qualify. Neither would teens.

Unlicensed girls found pregnant would be given a choice between a state-provided abortion or delivery of the baby accompanied by surgical sterilization to prevent additional pregnancy.

I say this with the understanding that the catholics, mormons, etc, would oppose it on doctrinal grounds.