I Had To Trick A Doctor In To Giving Me A Vasectomy

This happened in '86 in a rural area of the midwestern U.S. I was 22 years old and knew beyond any doubt that I never wanted to be a father. I was certain of that long before I knew exactly how a man became a father. I loved my niece and nephew, but I didn't want kids myself.

I had a fuck buddy at the time. I hate to admit it, but when she miscarried I was relieved. Sorry for her, but relieved for myself. I knew there were only two ways to be sure I'd remain child free. Abstain or get a preemptive vasectomy. Abstinence at that age wasn't a realistic option.

My primary didn't perform vasectomies, so he sent me to a doctor in a town a few miles away. That doctor said, "Sorry, can't do it.You could change your mind."

I said, "What?"

He told me I was too young to know what I wanted, and kindly ushered me out the door. I asked if he'd recommend someone who could do it. He sneered and said, "No doctor is going to give a kid your age a vas."

I went to another doctor and heard basically the same thing. I couldn't believe it. I could drink, vote, join the army, serve on a jury, but evidently my reproductive future was best left for others to decide. I wanted to be honest, but I figured it they were going to treat me like a child, then I'd lie like one.

I made an appointment with another doctor about 40 miles away. This time I wasn't taking any chances. I made sure I had a couple pictures of my neice and nephew, who were toddlers, in my wallet. They looked like their mother who was my sister. Since I looked like my sister, they could pass as mine.

When the doctor asked if I had kids, I sighed a little and said, "Sure do, Doc." Then I spun a yarn about how my two kids have different mothers, how the mothers took off, how I don't get to see the kids much, how one of the mothers is on welfare because I can't pay enough child support, and so on. I took out the pics and showed him, saying, "They're cute aren't they, Doc?" He agreed. Then I told him I got another local girl pregnant and she was due in a couple months. By the time I was done, that doctor was glad to give me a vasectomy.

That was 36 years ago, and I'm even more certain now I made the right decision. For the most part I've had the life I wanted, and I'd make exactly the same choice again.
I'm assuming things are completely different today. With what's been going on politically lately, I'm not sure. I'd hate to think of a young man or woman in 2022 being patronized like I was.