Vasectomy: Australian Men’s Perspective

Click on the links below to view Vasectomy: Australian Men’s Perspective online video:

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*Video in .WMV (Windows Media) format.To view video, select and right click on the link of your preferred resolution and select 'Save Target As'. Save to your desktop and then play using your favourite media player

Marie Stopes International has released an online vasectomy information video – Vasectomy: Australian Men’s Perspective - providing men with the opportunity to find out more about the procedure from the comforts of their own home or office.

The online video features three men who have had a vasectomy, including Robert, who in 2005 made Australian television history by having Australia's first live television vasectomy on ROVE Live. The video also features Dr Barbara Simcock – Marie Stopes International’s resident expert on the procedure.

Why the need for an online video?

Marie Stopes International developed the video in response to the findings of a major independent survey of 1000 men conducted by Quantum Market Research – “Australian Men’s Attitudes to Contraception and Vasectomy”.

Findings from the research indicate that:

• Around a quarter of men (24%) believe that having a vasectomy is ‘really painful’;
• 9% of men believe that a vasectomy reduces testosterone levels;
• 7% of men believe a vasectomy increases the risk of testicular or prostate cancer;
• 7% of men believe it affects sexual enjoyment;
• 6% of men believe it results in an inability to ejaculate / orgasm;
• only 50% of men said they had ever discussed contraception and sexual health with their GP; and
• only 39% of men aged 18-29 have spoken to a GP on the issue of contraception and sexual health.

By incorporating real-life stories alongside medical facts, men will be provided with a more realistic understanding of the vasectomy procedure.

Click on the participants' names below for their biographies:

Anthony1 (PDF) 398.78 kB

Robert1 (PDF) 379.64 kB

Trevor1 (PDF) 389.34 kB

Barbara1 (PDF) 380.94 kB

Did you know:

• Vasectomy is the only permanent method of contraception for men and has a 99.5% success rate
• Vasectomy is safe, simple and highly effective
• Vasectomy is performed under local anaesthetic
• A vasectomy blocks the vas deferens so that sperm produced in the testes can not get into the semen
• A vasectomy takes approximately 10 minutes
• A vasectomy is carried out as day surgery and you will be required at the centre for about an hour and a half
• You can return to work 1 - 2 days after the procedure and you can start sexual activity when you feel comfortable
• You will not be sterile straight away and will need to use another method of contraception for a few months until your doctor informs you that your semen is free of sperm
• The procedure will not change sexual ability or enjoyment
• Vasectomy should be considered as a permanent form of contraception (sterilisation). If you are not 100% certain you should consider a different method of contraception, such as a condom