The real picture behind an apparent decline in vasectomy uptake | Letters

Dr Gareth James of the Association of Surgeons in Primary Care says the commonly quoted decline in vasectomy numbers needs careful interpretation

Tim Burrows is absolutely right to highlight the importance of vasectomy, the anxiety many men feel about it, and the continuing imbalance in contraceptive responsibility between men and women (My first thought after having a vasectomy: why aren’t more British men having them?, 11 May). However, the commonly quoted decline in vasectomy numbers needs careful interpretation.

NHS Digital figures do not capture the full picture, because they largely exclude NHS vasectomies performed in community and primary care settings, where a substantial proportion of procedures now take place.