STERILIZATION: SENSIBLE CHOICE OR SERIOUS TROUBLE? – SELF-SACRIFICE FOR THE SAKE OF THE PARTNER (VASECTOMY)
In the next two case examples, not only were the patients young at the time of their vasectomy, but there is the additional factor that with both men the procedure was undertaken for the sake of their partner.
A couple came for advice about their infertility. They were in their early 40s, the man dressed in a neat business suit, and his wife also formally dressed. She was so distressed that the overwhelming impression was of a woman with a mass of wild auburn hair and barely restrained emotion. They had married at 18 and had three adult children. After the birth of the third child, the husband, aged 22, had undergone a vasectomy in the puerperium. There appeared to have been no encouragement for him to discuss his decision with his wife. Initially the situation seemed acceptable, but as the years went on and the children grew up, the couple became increasingly distraught. They found adoption was impossible and fostering did not meet their emotional needs. They both regretted the operation and reversal was undertaken but pregnancy did not follow.
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