Men Slowly Shed Macho Image; Undergo No Scalpel Vasectomy

Davao City (PNA) — Some few good men slowly dropped that machismo image as they undergo the ‘no scalpel vasectomy procedure since its formal launching in Davao City last year.

This was revealed by the Officer-in-Charge of the City Health Office’s Population Division, Jeff Fuentes, who said that as of October, there were already 55 men who went the procedure compared to 59 last year, indicating that there was a growing acceptance among men amidst belief that only women should undergo birth control procedures.

These men, he said, decided to undergo no scalpel vasectomy because of lack of income to feed a growing family. Some also did not approve of their wives undergoing ligation due to medical conditions while other men see vasectomy as alternative to tubal ligation.

Fuentes said these men have three or 13 children. “Dili na gyud nila kaya tungod sa kapit-os (They cannot afford (to feed a big family) anymore because of hardship),” he emphasized.

Fuentes pointed out that family planning must be shared by the couple.

While he sees positive acceptance of vasectomy among men, Fuentes said it still a low number because of some myths that undergoing the procedure would lose interest in having sexual intercourse or they would lose their manhood.

“Some men also equate vasectomy to castration which should not be,” Fuentes said during the Kapehan sa Dabaw at SM Davao.

He, however, admitted that no scalpel vasectomy is the most difficult of all family planning methods that is why they continue to promote the no scalpel vasectomy among men. Fuentes said it even offered for free by the city government.

Talomo District Health Officer, Titus Theodore Antonio, explained that the procedure is done without using scalpel blade. He said that it is more cost-effective. Antonio said no scalpel vasectomy costs up to Php 80,000.

Fuentes said they even offer certain amount of money to get by while they are recuperating for three days after undergoing the procedure. But he quickly clarified it is not “incentivizing” the service but it is a way of giving them assistance while they are out of work.

So far, Fuentes said they had already reached eight barangays in an effort to bring the service nearer to the people.

“This is the only city that has vasectomy service,” he said. Fuentes said the service is offered for free every Friday of the every month. (PNA) RMA/LILIAN C. MELLEJOR/LDP