PUNE: Statistics available with the Family Welfare Bureau (FWB) of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) reveal that the responsibility of undergoing permanent method of birth control is still predominantly with women only.

A total 15,359 women underwent tubectomy, a surgical procedure for permanent contraception, while only 261 men underwent vasectomy surgeries for birth control at various government and private hospitals under PMC limits in 2008-09.

“We achieved 101 per cent success rate in our designated target for tubectomy surgeries, while same was only 17 per cent for vasectomies during 2008-09,” in-charge of FWB, Dr Anjali Sabne told Sakaal Times.

The trend of men reluctant to undergo permanent contraception has been prevalent for last many years and bound to get repeated in 2009-10 also if available data is any indication.

“There are numerous advantages if men go for permanent contraceptive surgeries leaving aside their female counterparts. Surgeries for male are of short-time, requiring only local anaesthesia. Recovery is immediate with patient going home within a few hours. There are no side effects at all with a person retaining his natural vigour for lifetime,” she said.

Sabne said that unlike men, women have to be administered whole-body anaesthesia for surgeries and need hospitalisation for a few days after medical procedures.

The government offers money in the form of incentive to patients undergoing sterilisation surgeries, which amounts to Rs 1,100 for men, Rs 600 for women from below poverty line and Rs 250 for above poverty line women.

Health experts believe that various myths and superstitions associated with male sterilisation are proving hurdles in men coming forward for contraceptive surgeries.