Pinoy Dad Got A Free Vasectomy To Relieve Wife Of Birth Control Burden, 'This Time, Ako Naman'

We’ve seen a few stories about men getting vasectomies lately. There’s one dad that did it as a surprise for his wife. He even encouraged other men saying, “Why not tayong mga lalaki naman ang mag-sacrifice?”

Another dad got the procedure as a Christmas gift for his wife. The common denominator among the past few stories we featured: the men acknowledged that bearing a child and taking contraceptives (like pills or injectables) can be burdensome for moms. So, they wanted to do their part for their families.

Mark Atil’s story is very similar. In an interview with the 34-year-old, Smart Parenting learned of his experience getting a vasectomy, a procedure he underwent to permanently sterilize himself in order to prevent pregnancy. What’s interesting is that he shared that the procedure was practically free!

Read on if you (or your partner) are interested in getting a vasectomy.

How do you know if vasectomy the best choice for family planning?

Mark and his wife, Kate, who is 29 years old, eventually decided that their family of five—including their children Uno, 9, Eli, 4, and Sam, 1—was enough. They also decided that a vasectomy was the best choice for them considering their financial situation and the desire to give their children a better future.

“During Kate's pregnancy last 2020 kay Sam our youngest, nag-ask kami sa OB GYN if pwede si Kate mag undergo ng tubal ligation after mag-give birth, Mark shares.

“Since 27 pa lang si Kate at that time, hindi ni-recommend ni Doctor mag-undergo ng surgery. At least 30 years old [daw] dapat. Then, she suggested that If I’m willing to undergo vasectomy, she can recommend a clinic. Since wala pa ako knowledge about vasectomy, I refused the idea.

Mark adds that their satisfaction with the size of their family and their financial status were the ultimate factors for the decision. In 2022, they felt they were okay with three kids and they hoped to give a better future for their kids. “Also, pagka-graduate nila, at least medyo bata bata pa kame, magkapag-date date pa kame kahit oldies na.”

Another consideration: He wanted to take the burden of contraception off his wife. “She has been taking injectables for two years, and she just had her last shot [at the time]. Kaya na-consider namin mag-vasectomy as another form of family planning.”

Can you get a vasectomy in the Philippines for free?

Some couples hesitate to get elective procedures like this because they think it might be more costly than using condoms, pills, and other contraceptives. According to some sources, the surgery may cost around P25,000 to P50,000 in major hospitals. However, there’s a more affordable option.
  
Mark learned about the option of a "free" vasectomy from a friend who had undergone the procedure a year prior. He got it at the POPCOM Wellness Clinic in Mandaluyong.

“We were told na free basta may PhilHealth. No other charges. Nag-prepare lang ako ng valid IDs and the Claim Form 1 from our HR department.”

What can you expect when getting a vasectomy?

He shared a series of Instagram stories that animatedly talked about his experience. He also had other things to share if you’re curious about what to expect when getting a vasectomy.

“I think the pain tolerance will differ from person to person. Medyo mataas kasi pain tolerance ko, kaya I was able to hold it longer.

Mark also urged men and couples to finalize the decision before going through with it. “You need to be 150% sure about this. Do your research like watch videos and read content online and kung pwede, consult doctors.

And remember that it’s not for everyone. It always depends on your situation. Mark says, “Consider different factors such your family composition, financial status, and long-term goals. For instance, we are migrating this January, and it’s one of the factors in our decision.

“You don’t need to rush your decisions, don’t be pressured with friends or peers na nag-undergo ng procedure," he said.

Naturally, huge decisions or milestones like this can make a huge impact in a marriage. There will be many things you learn about yourself, your partner, and your relationship throughout the experience.

We hope that openly talking about this option if one of you is interested will help you form a stronger bond with each other.