TESTIMONIALS:- For the convenience of their partner, the planet, or their lives, men choose a still-marginal form of birth control: vasectomy. Behind this radical choice lies a real trampling of evil prejudices.
Imagine a hormone-free birth control method that’s almost 100% effective, and the only prerequisite for obtaining it is being the proud owner of testicles. This is a vasectomy, also called “contraceptive sterilization,” which consists of cutting the vas deferens, the two small tubes that connect the testicles to the prostate, to prevent sperm from passing through. Although since the legalization of birth control in 1967, control of fertility and its unintended consequences still rests largely on women’s shoulders, this male contraceptive has something to appeal to.
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Legalized in France since 2001, the act has long been marginal. But after years of inactivity, it’s gradually coming out of the woodwork, inviting itself into certain conversations, podcast episodes, and comic book stores. Contraceptives or even on TV, with the latest documentary Pants problem The number of reimbursable interventions in France rose from 1,908 in 2010 to 23,306 in 2021, according to Health Insurance data. If we are far from the quota announced in New Zealand, Australia or the Netherlands, where the option is chosen by 11% of couples, the curiosity of the French is palpable, confirms Dr. Antoine Feis. “In 10 years, the number of vasectomy consultations has multiplied by 10,” says the specialist, who is also the vice-president of the French Urology Association.
A partner in pain
Jean-Francois Marche welcomes this enthusiasm. This father of twins had a vasectomy done 10 years ago, in 2011 at the Simone Veil Center in Nantes. To keep this experience under the radar, he made an audio documentary, my vasectomy which aired the following year French culture, and where he documents the origin of the project. “During dinner with friends, my companion confided that she could no longer take her IUD, the skin problems it caused her,” says the director. At one point, the question of permanent birth control comes up, and the friend turns to me and says: “Why not you? Why shouldn’t it be your turn to take care of it?’ I thought I was well informed, but it never crossed my mind. That was the trigger.”
It’s too easy for us men, all our lives or almost we can plant seeds here and there without really considering the consequences.
Florent, 38 years old
Thanks to the movement to emancipate women’s voices in recent years, the suffering of some related to their contraception is no longer invisible and is now affecting young men. This is the case of 31-year-old Theo Riviere. The latter opted for a vasectomy to address the imbalance of contraceptive control in her couple. “Before, the pill seemed to me to be harmless, harmless, but I saw with my partner its significant effect on health, the pain it caused, the obligation to constantly think about it, to never forget…”, this author elaborates. from board games. A vasectomy was obviously the easiest and least restrictive way to get rid of it.”
For 38-year-old Florent, the fact that he saw his companion with an unwanted pregnancy and an abortion was decisive. “It’s very easy for us men, all our lives or almost we can plant seeds here and there without really considering the consequences, and society adapts to it,” he condemns. I promised my partner it wouldn’t happen again, and the next day I asked on the forums to “counter” myself in a nice and proper way.
eco-concern
Urologist Antoine Faiss also notes an increase in demand among people under 30 who are victims of this modern anxiety, which is eco-anxiety, and who do not want children. 29-year-old engineer Bastien claims that he always knew that fatherhood was not for him. Add to that global warming and current crises, and his decision was made. “There are already quite a few of us, and the future scares me a lot, both ecologically, politically and economically. There is no question of imposing it on the future generation,” he comments.
These reasons are completely valid and should be listened to, says Dr. Antoine Feis. On the other hand, the young age of the patients makes the doctor more questionable. “Below 35, the risk of regret remains high, he informs. In the United States, it is estimated that 3 to 5% of men who have had a vasectomy change their mind after the operation, and these numbers increase the younger you are.
It’s better to regret not having a child than to regret having one
Bastien, 29 years old
Fear of regret is really one of the obstacles that holds some men back. And for good reasons, if this contraception is not irreversible, then it is better to consider it as such, warns the urologist. “Theoretically, we can reconnect the vessels, but the result of the operation (vasovasostomy, Ed.) does not always work. If the vasectomy is more than 8 years old and the patient is old, there is a risk of not restoring fertility. This is why healthcare providers recommend freezing sperm beforehand (at the patient’s expense), especially if the individual is young and childless. “It’s a simpler insurance, and the chances of getting pregnant again with insemination are better than after vasovasostomy,” adds Antoine Face.
To make his choice heard, Bastien had to go back to it several times with different urologists. Indeed, if any adult male is authorized by law to request a vasectomy, the health care provider reserves the right to accept or decline the operation. “I prefer to regret not having a child, than to regret his coming into the world,” defends the 21-year-old who had a vasectomy last year. And if my desire to be a father returns tomorrow, adoption remains.
Fear of pain
The fear of suffering associated with surgery also prevents some men from doing it. In order to inform about the course of the procedure and eliminate various fears, doctors set a four-month reflection period between the first meeting with the urologist and the operation. At the Nantes University Hospital, where Jean-Francois Marquet had his vasectomy, general practitioners have been practicing the act since 1975, and the marriage and family counselor conducts the first interview.
Very specifically, “the intervention lasts about twenty minutes and is generally done on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia,” reports Antoine Face. Postoperative complications are very rare. Only sexual relations and sports should be avoided for a week. The success of the vasectomy is confirmed by spermography three months later.
“No one goes there with their eyes closed,” Jean-Francois Marche testifies. Last year, the director followed the journey of five men between the ages of 28 and 48 who wanted a vasectomy. “I took on the role of both director and big brother to guide them, set the record straight, and finally show that this is an act of crazy intelligence treated like a cold or a mole,” the author explains. A vasectomy, it’s going to be male aired last October France 3:.
“Like most men, I’m not used to talking about my private parts and exposing them to strangers,” confides Nicholas, a 38-year-old carpenter, father of two and the main character of the short film. On the day of D, I was afraid of suffering, that the operation would not go as planned. In the end, it was neither the best nor the worst moment of my life. I only felt a slight tingling sensation during the injection of anesthesia.
Breaking down preconceived notions
If vasectomy is starting to become more democratic, it still suffers from many misconceptions. “I was warned, explaining that it could be problematic for my libido,” recalls Bastien, 29. Other friends were really serious, joking about my future “castration”. “Squeak-squeak”, snip-snip”, scissor emoji…” Absolutely false arguments, emphasizes Dr. Antoine Face. Neither the testicles, nor ejaculation, nor libido are altered by the surgery.
On social media, Theo Riviere made a bitter revelation of this misinformation after posting a post-intervention photo on November 15. After 4.5 million views, his message has sparked outrage on Twitter. “Reading them, they had just cut my balls, my voice would become sharper, and my muscles could melt,” laments the man who, for example, is accused of: “poor” (cocu, French) by his detractors.
“From a cultural point of view, vasectomy is still seen as a transition of the life force, which is fertility,” comments Christine Castelen-Meunier, a sociologist specializing in men at the CNRS. In addition, the act places us in a position of dependence, vulnerability—the medical profession—to others, which goes against the dominant female ideal.
Dramatize and trivialize
Ignoring the male trolls, Theo Riviere will finally open the doors to “restore the positive and answer the relevant questions.” He’s not the only one who has become an advocate for vasectomy. After his surgery, Bastien noticed that some prankster friends were also asking for information. In Nantes, thanks to a documentary he appears in, Nicolas was surprised to find other vasectomy sufferers he could talk to among his football colleagues.
As a small bonus for Bastien, the intervention even resulted in an undoubted benefit to his romantic encounters. “When I bring it up on a date, some women defend this contraceptive investment,” she smiles. One of them even told me that it was very attractive. she said it was a lot of pressure on her because she wasn’t sure she wanted children.”
Nicola, she does not hide her confusion when her female entourage congratulates her, describing her approach as female and feminist. “I almost feel proud that I did it, but I say ‘almost’ because for years women and men have been fighting for equality in contraception. Me, I do surgery and become a 52-minute documentary and a hero. No.” Jean-Francois Marquet agrees and excels. “We’re not supermen or aliens, just regular guys who took the time to research the all-important issue of couple fertility.” Who is next?
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Source: Le Figaro
