Bangkok: Are Males Resistant to Sterilization?

Abstract

Although sterilization is becoming one of the most widely accepted contraceptive methods in the world (developed and developing countries alike) for the most part it is the wife who undergoes the procedure. While cultural and social factors may contribute to resistance on the part of men to become obstacle -- factors which are subject to intervention. Vasectomies have been performed for many years at the Chulalongkorn Hospital in Bangkok with a separate free vasectomy clinic operating since 1973. The acceptance rate during its first 3 years was disappointingly low. However when vasectomy services were offered on weekends rather than during the week (when men would have to lose days from work) when an educational program was set up to reassure men that the operation would not affect their sexual powers when transportation to the clinic was provided and the atmosphere at the clinic was made more relaxed and waiting time decreased the number of acceptors rose four-fold within 2 years. (Authors modified) (Summary in FRE)