Psychologic effects of vasectomy in voluntarily childless men

Abstract

Forty-four childless men and 51 vasectomized parents were compared as to their childhood backgrounds, marital satisfaction, social/emotional adjustment, physical and emotional problems attributed to the vasectomy, and attitudes toward vasectomy as a means of birth control. The findings suggested that for young married men, firmly committed to childlessness and in agreement with their wives regarding the necessity of the operation, vasectomy appears to be as physically and psychologically safe as in married parents for at least a two-year period. There were differences in the childfree men and fathers in styles of adjustment, with the childfree reporting themselves to be more independent, mobile, and less tied to tradition; these differences were seen as being more related to choosing a childfree life style than to the choice of vasectomy as a contraceptive method.

PIP: A comparative study was conducted to determine whether vasectomy produces different physical and/or psychological effects in childless men and fathers. Subjects were 51 married vasectomized fathers and 44 married vasectomized, voluntarily childless men matched in age, education, and time of the vasectomy. All the vasectomies were performed at the Planned Parenthood Association of Maryland vasectomy clinic between 1971 and 1975. Determinants and results of the procedure were similar for both groups. All subjects indicated concurrence of the wife. Prior contraceptive methods used and practice levels were similar, with both groups using condoms at a higher rate than for the general population. Both groups reported a 5-10% short- or long-term complication rate. The childfree men reported themselves more independent and mobile and less tradition-bound than the fathers; these differences are attributed to their childlessness and not to the choice of vasectomy. The study findings show vasectomy to be physically and psychologically safe in both childless men and fathers.