By LIWAY M. YPARRAGUIRRE

THE Provincial Population Office is looking for ‘champions’ – men who will and can talk bravely about vasectomy without blushing.

But first and foremost, they should have undergone vasectomy procedure themselves to be credible when they explain that contrary to misconceptions, vasectomy will not affect a man’s ability to have erection and perform.

“Grabe ang resistance,”said Dr. Ana Teresa de Guzman, acting provincial health and population officer, on the reaction of Pangasinense men on the vasectomy procedure.

Of Pangasinan’s enormous population, De Guzman said only eight men responded last year and underwent vasectomy. Five of them belong to middle class families Class C), while the three are in Class D and E. All of them are in their 40’s.

They join the population office’s community campaign alright. But they don’t want to be identified. Their faces are covered when they speak at barangay visitations, said De Guzman.

“We are looking for champions, men who will really speak of the procedure at wala talaga siyang nararamdaman na side effects nito. Sa conventions at seminars na nadaluhan namin, there are really men (foreighners) who speak out their experience, that they can still perform,” she remarked.

Meanwhile, De Guzman said the USAID (United Staed Agency for International Development) family planning commodities assistance being given to the province of Pangasinan will be phased out or stopped in 2008.

She said the USAID family planning assistance started here 45 years ago. Phasing out gradually started four years ago.(The family planning commodities being given includes condoms, pills, injectibles and IUD.)

De Guzman said this is the reason why they are integrating in the program permanent family planning procedures like vasectomy. They are also encouraging mothers not to use pills anymore but have a permanent procedure (tubal ligation).

“There are pills in the market but they have to buy it if they would like to continue using it. So as not to be a burden to their family’s economy, we suggest that they’d rather have a permanent procedure,” she said.

Based on their data, De Guzman said about 5% of the women population had undergone tubal ligation. Others are still using pills and injectibles to prevent pregnancy.

The most common family planning procedure being used, she said, are pills, IUD, tubal ligation and condom for the men.

The reason, she said, why men are not receptive to the idea of having vasectomy is the usual misconception of not being able to have erection and perform in bed.

De Guzman explained: Pakiramdam nila ay mababawasan ang kanilang ego. May psychological effect sa kanila.Sa vasectomy, pinuputol yong daluyan ng sperm. Walang babawasan. Ang erection ay nasa isip. Kaya kailangang maintindihan ng lalaki yong concept ng vasectomy