Out of the 572 individuals who opted for either minilap or vasectomy in these camps, 551 were women and the remaining 21 were men. And of these also, some had chosen to undergo the vasectomy procedures because their wives had medical ailments or because their wives had to go for foreign employment."The males who had come for the vasectomy procedure had done so not because of their own will, but rather because they had no other option left," said health worker Ghana Thapa adding that many of these men needed counseling before taking the decision.
"Men opting for family planning procedures are insignificant compared to that of the women. And it is not a new thing. It has been trend that has been seen over the years. It is difficult to find men opting for vasectomy," Man Mohan Thapa, an officer at the DPHA said.
"Because of the widespread conviction in the community that family planning results in physical debility, and renders the working male incapable of performing labor, women are expected to undertake family planning surgeries," Thapa said adding that religious norms is another factor that restricts male and female from opting for family planning in the Muslim community.
The trend is equally prevalent in families that are economically and educationally prosperous. "Men from the educated and urban societies too have a misconception that family planning results in sexual incompetence," says physician Dr. Manohar Joshi adding that it is the very reason that even in cities like Butwal and Bhairawa, the number of men undergoing vasectomy is very less. According to him the procedure for vasectomy is an easier one compared to minilap and suggested that men should go for family planning rather than the women.
Against this misconception, Dr. Joshi said that undergoing family planning does not decrease one's sexual ability but rather increases the drive. "Sexual drive increases after doing permanent family planning as there is no fear of conception." He said that sexual incompetence is rather a result of aging and mental stress.
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