OBJECTIVE: To examine the thoughts and concerns of men contemplating vasectomy before speaking to a physician as well as their partner's role in reaching this decision. DESIGN: A questionnaire analysis using response rates, ANOVA, and regression analyses. SETTING: A large Midwestern teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Visitors to the urology clinic of the hospital. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): [1] Questionnaire designed by authors. [2] Measures of self-concept, relationship satisfaction, and problem-solving abilities. RESULT(S): [1] Subjects had been considering vasectomy for an average of 1 year and were fairly certain of their decision. [2] Anxiety about vasectomy surgery was mostly driven by fear about pain and fear of the unknown. [3] Concerns about the finality of the procedure did not emerge as a big concern. [4] There is confusion about the reversibility of the procedure. [5] Subjects are better problem solvers and have a higher self-concept than people in general. CONCLUSION(S): Our findings demonstrate the need for adequate prevasectomy counseling, particularly in the area of postoperative expectations, as well as reversibility of the procedure.
OBJECTIVE: To examine the thoughts and concerns of men contemplating vasectomy before speaking to a physician as well as their partner's role in reaching this decision. DESIGN: A questionnaire analysis using response rates, ANOVA, and regression analyses. SETTING: A large Midwestern teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Visitors to the urology clinic of the hospital. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): [1] Questionnaire designed by authors. [2] Measures of self-concept, relationship satisfaction, and problem-solving abilities. RESULT(S): [1] Subjects had been considering vasectomy for an average of 1 year and were fairly certain of their decision. [2] Anxiety about vasectomy surgery was mostly driven by fear about pain and fear of the unknown. [3] Concerns about the finality of the procedure did not emerge as a big concern. [4] There is confusion about the reversibility of the procedure. [5] Subjects are better problem solvers and have a higher self-concept than people in general. CONCLUSION(S): Our findings demonstrate the need for adequate prevasectomy counseling, particularly in the area of postoperative expectations, as well as reversibility of the procedure.