[No-scalpel vasectomy. Profile of acceptance and results]

Men have few effective methods for birth control. The surgical method vasectomy is highly safe and effective, although in Mexico represents only 2.4% of all contraceptive methods used.

To determine the characteristics, complications and results of the men who requested and underwent no-scalpel vasectomy in the Instituto Nacional de Perinatología Isidro Espinosa de los Reyes, in México.

Retrospective cohort study with data of clinical records of men who underwent no-scalpel vasectomy from 2003 to 2007. Sociodemographic and clinical variables, and complications reported as well as espermatobioscopy data were included. Descriptive analysis was performed of different variables and chi squared test between proportions.

A total of 596 no-scalpel vasectomies were performed. The average age was 36.5 years and 13.4 of schooling, 86.9% were married with 9.6 years of union. Socioeconomic status was as follows: medium (25%), middle high (20.1%), and high (24.7%). The 94.3% of men requested the no-scalpel vasectomy because of satisfied fertility and 5.7% by morbidity in his couple. The complications were as follows: epididymitis (2.2%), mild haematoma (1.5%) and contact dermatitis (0.2%). The surgical complications were significantly more frequent for the group with varicocele compared with the normal men group (p < 0.05). Azoospermia was achieved in 99.1% of men at 18 weeks after the no-scalpel vasectomy. Early recanalization occurred in 0.5% of men. There were no pregnancies.

The profile of men who requested no-scalpel vasectomy was in a great proportion healthy, in the fourth decade of life, with high school or greater, satisfied fertility and high socioeconomic status. No-scalpel vasectomy is a method of fertility planning very effective with low morbidity.