In July 2023, Liu Luyang walked into a hospital and made a life-changing decision. In just 30 minutes, two small incisions placed him among a rare 0.02% of Chinese men who have undergone a vasectomy.
But Liu didn’t stop there. He turned his private decision into a public conversation, launching a six-part video series titled Sterilization Diaries on social media. The short clips documented his journey—from surgery to recovery—inviting applause, criticism, and curiosity.
Women called him courageous. Men questioned his masculinity. Some even mocked him with comments like, “Have you done a paternity test yet?” Despite the backlash, Liu continued to share his story.
“To me, masculinity means taking responsibility—protecting my family, even from outside pressures,” said Liu, 26, in an interview with Sixth Tone.
His videos are part of a small but growing movement in China. In a country where reproductive responsibility traditionally falls on women, a few young men are challenging old norms and opening up about their choice to undergo sterilization.
Many of these men are in their twenties, born after 2000. Through platforms like Xiaohongshu and Douyin, they aim to break the silence around male sterilization. Some focus on practical aspects—hospital procedures, costs, and recovery—while others confront the deep-rooted stigma that labels vasectomies as emasculating.
Their videos are attracting millions of views. Some viewers reach out in private, asking how to schedule appointments or talk to their families. For many, discussing the procedure online is easy—what’s hard is telling their parents or partners.
Liu and his wife, Zhai, prepared for the decision together. Zhai, a 33-year-old kindergarten teacher, did extensive research before they agreed. But she didn’t push him into it.
“I was afraid he’d rush into it, so I asked him to think carefully,” she said. “Now that it’s done, we have no regrets.”
Her mother, however, was outraged. “How could you let him do this?” she asked, demanding Zhai get an intrauterine device instead. She hoped for a granddaughter, despite the couple already having a son.
Liu went ahead anyway. “In modern society, reproduction should be a shared responsibility,” he said.
Data shows the imbalance. In 2020, China reported 14.7 million birth control procedures. Of those, 61% were abortions, 17% IUDs, and 1.3% female sterilizations. Just 0.02%—or 2,626—were vasectomies.
Yet vasectomies are far simpler and safer than female sterilization. According to Dr. Liao Xuefen from Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, the procedure is quick, minimally invasive, and does not affect sexual function. More doctors are now advocating for vasectomy online to counter public misconceptions.
Liu’s videos walk viewers through the entire process—from pre-op tests to recovery. In one, titled At 25, I Finally Got the Vasectomy, he explains the timeline: arriving at 8 a.m., surgery by 1 p.m., home the same day. The total cost was 1,600 yuan (about $219), covered by insurance. Doctors reminded him he could back out at any time—even after signing the consent form.
Since posting, Liu’s videos have drawn over 230 million views and sparked more than a million discussions. Questions pour in: “How long is the recovery?” “Is it painful?” “Which hospital do you recommend?”
Lin Sen, 28, is one of those who followed a similar path. In early 2024, an unplanned pregnancy led him and his wife to choose abortion—a painful experience that prompted Lin to consider sterilization.
“We made the decision together, without outside pressure,” he said. For him, the goal was clear: a safe, stress-free intimate life.
After his smooth recovery, Lin shared his journey with over 110,000 followers on Xiaohongshu. By day 15, he had resumed normal activity. A checkup confirmed the procedure was successful within two months.
Still, social resistance is strong. Joy Lin, founder of the gender equity group Wequality, says long-term male contraception faces deep cultural barriers in China. “With an aging population and declining birth rates, promoting vasectomies may clash with government efforts to encourage childbirth,” she said.
Historically, family planning policies in China have focused on women, particularly during the one-child era. Even as policies now support having more children, cultural norms continue to expect women to bear the brunt of contraception.
But some, like Jiang Yijun, a 35-year-old medical worker from Sichuan, are defying that tradition. With a 2-year-old daughter and no plans for more children, he chose vasectomy as a practical and responsible step.
More men like Jiang, Lin, and Liu are starting to speak up—challenging long-held beliefs and encouraging a broader discussion on reproductive responsibility.
Their message is simple: contraception shouldn’t be a woman’s burden alone.
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