Increasing male participation in the uptake of vasectomy services.

To cite: Singh H, Mishra A, Alam D, et al. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2014;40:64–65. WHY IS THERE A NEED TO INCREASE MALE PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY PLANNING? In India, family planning is considered to be the woman’s responsibility and tubal ligation is much more popular compared to vasectomy. For every 98 women who undergo tubal ligation, only two men accept vasectomy, which reflects a serious imbalance and indicates gender inequity. About half the women in India are reported to be anaemic and a large proportion has reproductive tract infections. If not cured of reproductive tract infections, it is inappropriate for these women to undergo tubal ligation or have an intrauterine device inserted; use of contraception by husbands could be a better alternative.