South Africans have had different reactions to Phethelo Fakude’s tweet about his experience after obtaining a vasectomy.
The tweet also generated a discussion about the significance of sex education.
“I completed the task. I recently had an irreversible vasectomy.
I’m 29 years old and single.
I don’t have any children and don’t plan to have any in the future.
This is something I’ve wanted for a long time. Jag, as he is affectionately known, tweeted, “It’s surreal.”
Vasectomy, according to the Mayo Clinic, is a type of male birth control that reduces the amount of sperm available to your sperm.
It is accomplished by cutting and sealing the sperm canals.
Although vasectomy can be reversed, it should be considered a long-term method of male birth control.
The Johannesburg based photographer’s operation cost him R5 500 at a clinic in Centurion.
The tweet which now has over 3500 retweets and over 17 000 likes saw many criticise the man for his decision. Probably because when it comes to family planning the onus is on women, right?
I did it. I just got my irreversible vasectomy done.
I’m 29. Unmarried. No children and no intention of ever having any. I’ve wanted this for years. It’s surreal.
Thank you to everyone who advised, donated, and @NthabiWabi for supporting me through every step pic.twitter.com/ULwFeABvh9— Divorce Photographer
(@JagIsOffline) February 2, 2022
While many in the replies hurled insults and went as far as quoting the declining worldwide birth rate, some men did not even know vasectomy existed.
“Stupid decision we make especially when we’re still young…Kids are everything when career is done and dusted (sic),” one user tweeted.
“At 29, you’re too young to think you don’t want babies.”
“Sadly it is the end of a generation. I know the ancestors are not happy but that’s the modern man,” said Stan Mutua
Some came to his defence and applauded the photographer for his decision.
“This should be normalised. Society really needs to move on from putting the responsibility of birth control on women. If you know for a fact that you don’t want kids, this is the most responsible decision one could make,” one user wrote.
“Sixty percent of children have absent fathers.
Do these fathers think their kids are everything? If kids are everything to you it doesn’t mean every man or woman feels the same.
The mistake of not having children is better than the recklessness of having children you don’t want,” another wrote.
Following Jag’s tweet, other men have also taken to social media to share that they have also booked for their vasectomy operations.