Vasectomy: Why we won’t block our sperm for family planning – Men
As experts push for the uptake of family planning services to regulate the country’s explosive population growth, some Nigerian men have vowed not to embrace vasectomy, a form of male birth control method.
Findings by PUNCH Healthwise showed that these men are worried a lot about whether their testosterone levels and libido would drop while some are particularly worried that they could suffer from erectile dysfunction after undergoing vasectomy.
According to MSI Nigeria Reproductive Choices, a leading provider of sexual and reproductive health care services across communities, vasectomy also called male sterilisation, is a safe and effective permanent method of contraception for men.
“A vasectomy is a simple procedure done by our trained medical experts to cut the supply of sperm to the semen. In this procedure, the small tubes in the scrotum that carry sperm are cut or blocked off, so sperm can’t leave the body and cause pregnancy”, the NGO wrote on its website.
Many of the men insisted that undergoing a permanent surgical procedure as a method of family planning was an extreme measure to prevent pregnancy.
In Nigeria, family planning is an important issue, with a high total fertility rate of 4.6 children per woman.
According to the Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey 2018, only 10 per cent of married men in Nigeria use a modern method of family planning, and vasectomy is not commonly used.
Most of the men who voiced their concerns to PUNCH Healthwise, argued that there were alternative methods of family planning that were less invasive and more in line with their personal, cultural, and religious beliefs, rather than opting for a permanent surgical procedure.
According to a health website, Mayo Clinic, vasectomy is considered a form of male sterilisation and is designed to provide permanent contraception by preventing sperm from mixing with semen during ejaculation.
The procedure is often discussed within the context of family planning as it provides a permanent solution for men who are certain they do not want to have children or have reached their desired family size.
Speaking with our correspondent, the men vehemently rejected vasectomy in favour of other alternatives such as condoms, withdrawal, and natural family planning methods.
They also cited fear of permanent infertility to a reluctance to tamper with the natural order as reasons they will not embark on permanent surgery to block their sperm from fertilising.
One of the respondents, Dare Olawin, argued that a man undergoing surgery to alter his reproductive system goes against the natural order.
“I disagree totally with that kind of family planning. I don’t support it, I don’t like it, and I don’t think there should be any reason why a man should go under the knife to cut something off from his scrotum just because he wants family planning,” he stated.
Olawin noted that women have various options for family planning, such as pills and injections, and that men can use condoms or contraceptives instead of resorting to surgery.
He also expressed concerns that women might prefer vasectomy as a means of ensuring their partner’s fidelity.
“Women can do that; women can take pills and inject different things to stop pregnancy. Men can use condoms, contraceptives, and all rather than doing such surgery,” he added.
Micheal Babatunde
Also speaking, Michael Babatunde stated that he believes that altering the natural flow of sperm could have unforeseen consequences.
He insisted that preventive methods such as condoms or withdrawal are safer, non-invasive alternatives to surgical intervention.
“I won’t support that at all. I have a personal opinion that when you try to tamper with nature, it is usually dangerous.
“When you prevent the area where sperm flows from just because you want to prevent yourself from fertilising a woman’s egg, it could be dangerous. Though there may not be medical proof to back this up, I just have that kind of feeling that something may backfire,” he explained.
Babatunde acknowledged that while men may have the option to make responsible decisions about their fertility, he would not consider vasectomy for himself.
“It is a responsible decision for men to take care of their fertility,” he stated.
On his part, Adejola Adeyemi acknowledged vasectomy as an effective family planning option while expressing reservations about its permanence.
Adejola Adeyemi
He stated, “As a man, I recognise vasectomy as an effective family planning option, but I might not opt for it because of its permanence. Life is unpredictable, and while I may feel certain about the number of children I want now, unforeseen circumstances, such as the loss of a child could change that perspective.”
Adeyemi emphasised the importance of flexibility in family planning, citing the uncertainty of life.
He added that he preferred methods that allow for flexibility rather than a permanent solution like vasectomy.
He said, “The idea of not having the option to expand my family if life takes an unexpected turn makes me hesitant. There’s also the societal and cultural perception that might make some men reluctant to take this step.
“That said, I do believe it’s responsible for men to take control of their fertility and share the burden of family planning.
“However, I would personally prefer a method that allows for flexibility, given that the future is never guaranteed.”
According to the World Health Organisation, family planning is a fundamental human right, and access to family planning services is essential for achieving gender equality, reducing poverty, and improving health outcomes.
Corroborating him, John Olanrewaju cited religious objections to vasectomy, stating, “My faith does not permit anything that is against life. We are pro-life, so anything artificial way of preventing pregnancy, abortion, or taking of life is against my religion, my faith, to the extent that I don’t even use condoms.”
Olanrewaju emphasised his reliance on natural family planning methods, which he claimed have been effective for him and his wife.
“We believe in natural family planning, and it has been working for us. With discipline and endurance, we are able to do that because it is only God who gives children; we don’t have the right to say we can create human beings or take away life.
“My wife is also not doing any family planning. So, that, as it may, is against my religion. I cannot do vasectomy because it is against life, and it is like trying to play God by saying you want to plan a family and all,” he noted.
He expressed concerns about vasectomy being against the natural order and God’s plan.
He further said, “More logically, I don’t think it is a good idea for a man to tie up the tool that sperm goes out to fertilise the egg of a woman. I don’t think it is good. Someone needs to consider that anything can happen in this life; it is not advisable to go against the order of God or nature.
“I don’t feel it is good for anybody to play God regardless of what or number of children we are going to have, we can have them, and if we are not going to have them, we cannot have them.”
Olasukanmi Akinlotan stands firm in his rejection of vasectomy, calling it an extreme option.
“The answer is a capital no,” he said bluntly when asked about his stance on the procedure.
For Akinlotan, simpler methods of family planning are more than sufficient, and he questions the need for a permanent solution.
“Why should I surgically block my sperm? Such decisions are extreme for me,” he stated.
Dr. David Ogunsanya
Meanwhile, a public health physician, Dr. David Ogunsanya offered a more clinical perspective on vasectomy, emphasising its benefits.
While acknowledging that vasectomy is not the right choice for all men, the physician noted its effectiveness for men who are certain about their desired family size.
“Vasectomy remains an understudied and underused contraceptive option. Vasectomy is regarded as a safe, cost-effective, permanent contraceptive method that is 99.9% effective at preventing pregnancy,” he explained.
The medical doctor, however, pointed to misinformation and negative attitudes as key barriers to its widespread use.
He also stressed that common myths, such as the belief that vasectomy negatively impacts a man’s libido, are largely unfounded.
“Misinformation about vasectomy may also be a reason that men who had not had a vasectomy had more negative attitudes about potential changes to their sex life, the procedure, and recovery.
“Men might believe that vasectomy causes them to lose their libido, and that’s a really important issue for men.
“Similarly, attitudes about the procedure and recovery may be driven by beliefs that vasectomy is invasive, painful, or debilitating. Yet, the majority of vasectomies are minimally invasive outpatient procedures requiring only local anaesthesia that take approximately 15 minutes,” he explained.
