title: "We never thought of a vasectomy": a qualitative study of men and women's counseling around sterilization.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sterilization is the most commonly used method of contraception in the United States; however, little is known about how providers counsel about these procedures or the information patients desire. In this study, we explore male and female experiences of sterilization counseling and their perspectives on ideal sterilization counseling.
  
  
  METHODS
  In-depth individual and group interviews were conducted with 37 heterosexual couples between the ages of 25 and 55 years. Each couple had reached their desired family size. Interviews were recorded and transcribed using NVivo software and analyzed using modified grounded theory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Men and women differed in their experiences of sterilization counseling. Women commonly received counseling on female sterilization but not vasectomy, while men rarely discussed either form of sterilization with their providers. Both men and women desired more information about sterilization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Contraceptive counseling of couples who have completed childbearing does not routinely include men or the option of vasectomy, despite the advantages of this method with respect to safety, efficacy and cost. Family planning and primary care providers have an important role in ensuring that couples are aware of all their options and can make an informed decision about their contraception.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94110, USA. shihg@fcm.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: Grace
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dubé
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dehlendorf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American; D003267:Contraception; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003376:Counseling; D005193:Family Planning Services; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010819:Physician's Role; D058007:Physicians, Primary Care; D012737:Sex Factors; D013245:Sterilization, Reproductive / Q000193:education*; D014481:United States; D014659:Vasectomy; D044465:White People