A questionnaire survey on the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs regarding vasectomy of male patients consulting in the Philippine General Hospital

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the knowledge, attitudes and beliefs of adult Filipino males consulting in the Philippine General Hospital on vasectomy, and the affect of marital status, length of marriage, number of children, level of education, economic status, religion and type of mass -media exposure on these attitude and beliefs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is a descriptive cross-sectional study. A total of 1120 adult male patients were included in the study. Data were collected using a standardized, self-administered questionnaire. Percentages and means were calculated for all variables. Analysis was done using multiple regression models. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 50.7 years (SD 16.5) and the mean number of children was 2.5 (SD 2.2). Of the whole sample, 363 (32.4%) have used or are currently using one from of contraception. Among the 518 (46.2%) of men who knew about vasectomy as a form of contraception, 451(87.1%) knew that vasectomy involves ligation of the vas deferens. Higher educational status, previous or current use of contraceptive and not being a Roman Catholic were shown to be statistically significantly associated with knowing about vasectomy as a form of contraception. Only knowledge about the safety of vasectomy was shown to influence men's willingness to undergo the procedure. CONCLUSION: Improved awareness of the safety and reversibility of vasectomy may lead to increased acceptance of the procedure amongst Filipino men. Physicians play an important role in the dissemination of information about contraception, alongside the mass media, and should make efforts to ensure that adequate and accurate information is made available.

Tuberculosis orchitis in patients who have undergone radical orchiectomy for testicular mass

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine clinical characteristics that are associated with tuberculosis orchitis in patients who present with a testicular mass. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This is an analytic retrospective cohort study of patients who underwent radical orchiectomy for a possible testicular malignancy based on a testicular mass from 2005 to 2009. The following data were derived from a review of the patient's charts: patient age, laterality of the disease, duration of symptoms, concomitant extra-testicular tuberculosis (TB), pre-operative anti-TB treatment received, pertinent pre-operative physical findings, pertinent diagnostics done pre-operatively, and intra-operative findings. RESULTS: The prevalence of testicular tuberculosis in persons who underwent radical orchiectomy for a scrotal mass is 31.8%. TB orchitis occurs more often in younger patients, those who have had tuberculosis in the past, or have received treatment, those with larger testicular masses, those with scrotal skin sinus and tenderness or swelling, tunica, vaginalis invasion, scrotal skin invasion, and epididymal enlargement, and those with cheesy substance noted in intraoperative findings. There were no significant differences between testicular tuberculosis and testicular tumor in terms of ultrasound findings. CONCLUSION: Testicular tuberculosis is prevalent among patients who underwent radical orchiectomy due to a scrotal mass. Several clinical characteristics preoperatively and intraoperatively may predict TB orchitis in these patients.