Interest in nonsurgical female permanent contraception among men in Portland, Oregon and eastern Maharashtra, India

Contraception. 2015 Aug;92(2):135-8. doi: 10.1016/j.contraception.2015.03.006. Epub 2015 Mar 11.

Abstract

Objective: We examined the men's attitudes and perceptions toward the concept of female nonsurgical permanent contraception (NSPC) or novel approaches to permanent contraception (PC) that do not require incisions or surgical equipment/hysteroscope.

Study design: Cross-sectional survey of married/partnered men in Portland, OR, and rural eastern Maharashtra, India. Descriptive analysis was performed.

Results: In India (N=150), most men (80%) anticipated that their partners would undergo PC in the future, compared to 30% in Portland (N=170). About a third (39.6% in India, 82% in Portland) reported being uncomfortable with PC for partners due to the need for surgery. Most men (85% in India, 82% in Portland) expressed a preference for a hypothetical new method of female NSPC over surgery, if safe and effective.

Conclusion: Most men sampled in two diverse settings expressed interest in NSPC for women.

Implications: Men's perceptions of new female contraceptive methods are important to the contraceptive development process. Men may find a safe and effective nonsurgical method of permanent female contraception more acceptable than surgical PC.

Keywords: Attitudes; Men; Perception; Permanent contraception; Sterilization.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Care Surveys
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice* / ethnology
  • Humans
  • India
  • Male
  • Oregon
  • Sexual Partners
  • Spouses
  • Sterilization, Reproductive / adverse effects
  • Sterilization, Reproductive / methods*
  • Sterilization, Reproductive / trends
  • Sterilization, Tubal / adverse effects
  • Sterilization, Tubal / methods
  • Sterilization, Tubal / trends
  • Vasectomy / adverse effects
  • Vasectomy / methods
  • Vasectomy / trends