| a) Age or number of living
children? No. In terms of safety, there are no
age or number of living children medical restrictions for a man to undergo sterilization,
but both must be considered during the counseling process to minimize the potential for
regret.
While the client's wishes should be paramount, he should
understand that young age is a risk factor for regret.
b) Waiting period?
No. If a man has been counseled and has chosen a
vasectomy, no waiting period should be required. However, it is often beneficial for the
man to have time to think about his decision.
However, the incidence of regret, even with young age at
time of vasectomy, remains low. Counseling is important to minimize the potential for
regret. |
a-b) Age and number of living
children are not medical reasons to restrict access to vasectomy according to
World Health Organization Medical
Eligibility Criteria. However, age and number of living children are important
considerations for the counseling process. Clarke and Gregson found that men who requested
vasectomy reversal were younger at the time of sterilization than controls.
- World Health Organization. Improving
access to quality care in family planning: medical eligibility criteria for contraceptive
use. Geneva: WHO, 1996.
- Clarke L, Gregson S. Who has a
vasectomy reversal? Journal of Biosocial Science 1986;18:253-69.
Other factors that have been associated with vasectomy
regret are remarriage or a change in partner, death of one or more children after the
procedure, improvement in financial status, and more rarely, psychological problems with
infertility or other physical problems. However, vasectomy has not been shown to
physically cause adverse health effects (see Question 6).
- Male sterilization. Population Reports
1983;Series D(4):61-100.
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