Vasectomy

Male sterilisation is a method used by only a minority of couples in most countries because the finality of the decision deters many of them. Even in the light of improving techniques for reversal, there can be no guarantee of success.

The frequency of the performance of male or female sterilisation differs from country to country. While 24 percent of couples living in a stable relationship in the United States rely on female sterilisation (tubal ligation), only 13 percent of US couples rely on male sterilisation (vasectomy). Five percent of European couples rely on tubal ligation and another five percent on vasectomy. Western European couples, however, prefer vasectomy (7%) over tubal ligation (3%). In contrast, twenty percent of percent of couples living in a stable relationship worldwide rely on tubal ligation, while only four percent of couples rely on vasectomy.

It could be much easier if cryobanks would be prepared to accept sperm from men before voluntarilly undergoing sterilisation. But for what are said to be ethical reasons, which are never explained, this expensive service is limited in almost all institutions to men undergoing radiation or chemotherapy.