Vasectomy Regret Among Childless Men

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Reproductive Medicine
• Men's Health

Background:

• Vasectomy is a common form of male contraception.
• Historical concerns exist regarding vasectomy regret, particularly in childless men.
• Limited data evaluates regret specifically within this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the level of regret among men who underwent vasectomy without prior fatherhood.
• To investigate factors influencing regret, such as age, time since procedure, and marital status.
• To understand the long-term satisfaction and considerations for reversal or assisted reproductive technology (ART) in this cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of vasectomy patients (2006-2021).
• Selection of patients who were childless at the time of vasectomy.
• A 6-question telephone survey assessing regret, reversal intentions, and ART considerations.

Main Results:

• 205 childless men (4.3% of total) were identified; 68 responded (33.2% response rate).
• Average age was 36.6 years; average follow-up was 5.51 years.
• Immediate regret was 4.4%, rising to 7.4% at follow-up; most patients were satisfied.

Conclusions:

• Vasectomy regret is uncommon in childless men.
• The majority of men in this cohort reported satisfaction and improved quality of life post-vasectomy.
• Few considered reversal or ART, indicating high long-term acceptance of the procedure.