title: The American man who chooses vasectomy: a profile.
abstract: Who is the typical American man choosing vasectomy?  The evidence from studies is clear.  He is most likely to be white, to live in the West, and to be better educated and have a higher income than the average.  He is in his mid- to late thirties and has at least 1 son.  He has been actively involved in birth control and strongly dislikes other contraceptive methods.  Vasectomy, to him, is a matter of convenience.  He is more strongly motivated than his wife to end childbearing and is protective of his wife's health.  He is secure, with lower than average need for social approval.  How does he arrive at a decision?  American men take a long time to make a decision about vasectomy.  The process may last anywhere from 2 to 10 years.  Stephen Mumford has outlined a 7-step decision making process.  A man:  becomes aware of vasectomy, talks to a vasectomized man, decides to have no more children, seriously considers vasectomy, decides temporary methods are no longer acceptable, decides vasectomy is the best method, has a pregnancy "scare".  Then the man schedules an appointment with his doctor.
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior; D003657:Decision Making; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005193:Family Planning Services; D006285:Health Planning; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011584:Psychology; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive; D014659:Vasectomy
keywords: Acceptor Characteristics; Acceptors; Behavior; Decision Making; Evaluation; Family Planning; Family Planning Programs; Male Sterilization; Psychosocial Factors; Qualitative Evaluation; Sterilization, Sexual; Vas Occlusion; Vasectomy