Judson T. Landis

The marital and sexual adjustment of 330 couples who chose vasectomy as a form of birth control.

Data on marital and sexual adjustment of 330 American couples who chose vasectomy for birth control were obtained through questionnaires mailed to a representative sample of 750 out of 2007 who had undergone vasectomy between 1956 and 1961. Vasectomy was chosen by respondents mainly because they could not afford any more children (64%). Other reasons centered around distrust (18%) or displeasure (21%) in contraceptive use. 14% cited medical problems. Over 90% had made the decision for a vasectomy as a couple. 1/3 of the husbands felt their marital relationship had improved largely because of the removal of fear of pregnancy. Nearly 2/3 reported no change in sexual desire; only 2% reported some decrease. While varying widely in range frequency of intercourse tended to increase for the group as a whole. A large majority of both husbands and wives reported an increase in sexual enjoyment. 99% would chose to have a vasectomy again.

High School Student Marriages, School Policy, and Family Life Education in California

California high schools were surveyed in 1954 and again in 1964 to determine the incidence of student marriages and the policies of school administrators regarding students who marry. The second part of the surveys assessed the teaching of family life courses in the high schools. The 1964 survey finds no significant trends in the incidence of high school marriages since 1954. An evaluation of policies in the two survey years indicates that the schools now have more positive programs to help the students who marry, but a higher dropout rate occurred among married students in 1964 than in 1954. The second part of the survey shows that fewer family living courses are required, fewer are for boys and girls, and a smaller percentage of students are enrolled in the courses.

Attitudes of Individual California Physicians and Policies of State Medical Societies on Vasectomy for Birth Control

Since vasectomies are usually performed in a doctors office and reporting is not required a questionnaire was sent to all active members of a 2-county medical association in the East Bay area of San Francisco in 1964 to elicit their attitudes beliefs and experiences with voluntary vasectomy. There was general approval for the procedure and 30% of the responding (877) doctors had performed one or more operations. 90% of the operations were done by general practitioners urologists and surgeons. Extrapolation from the figures for this area indicates that approximately 200000 vasectomies may be done yearly in the whole country. Psychiatrists tended to disapprove more than other specialties feeling it harmful psychologically to the patient. The main reason for objecting was that the man may later change his mind and regret having done it. 53% of all reversal operations have resulted in viable sperm and 23% so far in conceptions. Some vasectomy operations have been unsuccessful due to spontaneous recanalization or the males neglecting to have a sperm count before considering himself safe. The legal status of vasectomies is still unclear in almost all states.

Hesitations and Worries of 330 Couples Choosing Vasectomy for Birth Control

A sample of 330 men (mean age 31 years) largely from lower socioeconomic classes who had had vasectomy as a means of birth control in California (1956-1961) were studied by questionnaire as to reasons for preparation for and fears and hesitations about having a vasectomy. A large percentage of previous pregnancies had been unplanned especially among those under 26 years or over 37 years. The chief reason (stated by 64%) for wanting a vasectomy was that the men had as many children as they could afford; mean number of children in the families was however 3 and only 10% had 4 or more children. Vasectomy was chosen over salpingectomy for the wife primarily because it was easier and cheaper; the decision to have the operation was made jointly by the spouses in 93% of cases. Almost half (46%) of the group considered the vasectomy decision for less than 6 months before having it and 53% reported no fear of the operation. The mens chief concerns before having the vasectomy were fear of pain fear that sex drive would be affected and concerns that they could have no more children if they so desired. Men reported that their wives were most concerned about whether the operation would surely prevent conception whether the husband might be promiscuous with other women (considered an unlikely consequence by 68% of the men) and whether the wife might be blamed if the husbands masculinity was affected or if the wife should later become pregnant. Analysis of responses by the background variables of occupation education age religion mental status and length of time since operation revealed few significant differences.