Faculty Collaboration Database

Psychological correlates of vasectomy. Fertil Steril 2001 Mar;75(3):544-8

Date

03/10/2001

Pubmed ID

11239539

DOI

10.1016/s0015-0282(00)01744-1

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-0035113034 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   37 Citations

Abstract

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.

Author List

Sandlow JI, Westefeld JS, Maples MR, Scheel KR

Author

Jay I. Sandlow MD Chair, Professor in the Urologic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Anxiety
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Pain
Problem Solving
Regression Analysis
Self Concept
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vasectomy