[Vasectomy: who regrets it and why?]

In order to determine the real percentage of sterilised men who regretted their sterilisation and for which reasons, a retrospective questionnaire survey was conducted in 1990-1991 on 244 men sterilised between 1980 and 1983. Information was also collected from their case records. 7.4% of the sterilised men regretted their decision. Of these, 39% were younger than 30, and 94% had started a relation with another woman. The lower age limit for sterilisation according to the law is 25 years, 37% found this age limit too low and 6% found it too high. We conclude that it should be considered whether the legal lower age limit for sterilisation is too low. It is important to thoroughly inform the patient about problems in sexual relations and alternative methods of contraception before he decides on sterilisation.