In Baguio City, a growing trend among men in the Cordillera region is their increasing participation in family planning through non-scalpel vasectomy (NSV). Dr. Nelson Hora, a medical officer at the Baguio City Health Services Office, highlighted this shift during a recent press conference. He noted that the number of men choosing NSV has significantly increased from just one or two annually when the service began in 2010, to around 50 men during the NSV campaigns held in November of 2021, 2022, and 2023.
NSV, a permanent contraception method, involves a minor 15-minute surgical procedure where the vas deferens is cut. Dr. Hora emphasized that this method is 99 percent effective and a lifelong decision. The procedure has gained popularity as men recognize their crucial role in family planning and reproductive health.
The demographic of men opting for NSV includes professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and office workers, typically aged 30 and above, as well as construction workers. Glenda Dacanay, a nurse at the Department of Health-Cordillera, mentioned that there are now 25 trained doctors across various provinces capable of performing NSV, indicating a broader availability of the service.