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Vasectomy interest and awareness among patients and their partners in prenatal clinics in the United States
  1. Xiaoyue Mona Guo1,
  2. Marybeth Lore1,
  3. Jessica Madrigal2,
  4. Jessica Kiley1,
  5. Katelyn Zumpf3,
  6. Megan Adam2,
  7. Ashlesha Patel2
  1. 1 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
  2. 2 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, John H Stroger Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Illinois, USA
  3. 3 Biostatistics Collaboration Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
  1. Correspondence to Dr Xiaoyue Mona Guo, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA; xiaoyue.guo{at}med.usc.edu

Abstract

Objective Although vasectomy is safer, more effective and less expensive than tubal ligation, rates of permanent contraception are consistently higher in women than in men. We sought to explore vasectomy interest and awareness in patients and their partners during prenatal visits, a time when contraceptive counselling is typically performed.

Methods Anonymous surveys were distributed between January and July 2019 to a cross-sectional, convenience sample of pregnant women and their partners, if available, presenting for outpatient prenatal care at two hospitals (one public, one private) serving different patient populations in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Survey questions gauged participant awareness and interest in vasectomies.

Results Surveys were completed by 436 individuals (78% female, 24% male). Seventy percent of respondents indicated interest in vasectomy after achieving optimal family size, but most respondents had never discussed it with their healthcare provider. Factors associated with vasectomy interest included being partnered, having a lower household income, and knowing someone who has had a vasectomy. Almost 50% of respondents would be interested in obtaining information about vasectomies from their obstetrician or prenatal care provider.

Conclusions Many patients and their male partners in the prenatal clinic setting were interested in vasectomy as a method for permanent contraception, but most respondents had never received counselling. Since comprehensive prenatal care includes contraceptive planning, obstetric providers are uniquely positioned to educate individuals on vasectomy.

  • counseling
  • sterilization
  • reproductive
  • family planning services
  • contraception behavior

Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request. Deidentified participant data are stored in a Redcap database and password protected Excel sheet. Data can be requested from the corresponding author.

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Data availability statement

Data are available upon reasonable request. Deidentified participant data are stored in a Redcap database and password protected Excel sheet. Data can be requested from the corresponding author.

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Footnotes

  • Twitter @xmguo

  • Contributors XMG, ML, JM, JK and AP planned the study. MB conducted the survey and undertook data collection. XMG, JM and KZ analysed the data. ML, JK and AP supervised the study and are the guarantors.

  • Funding Funding was provided by the Friends of Prentice via a grant to the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Resident Research Program (grant number not applicable).

  • Competing interests JK is a consultant for CVS Caremark. AP has received funding from Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Merck & Co., Inc., Cooper Surgical, Inc. and Allergan plc for family planning research and training activities. These relationships do not present a conflict of interest with the current work.

  • Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, or conduct, or reporting, or dissemination plans of this research.

  • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.