Men at family planning clinics: The new patients?

Using a survey of family planning clinics in the continental United States that received Title X funding conducted by The Urban Institute in 1993, those clinics were identified that had made substantial efforts to serve male clients. The final sample size was 567 clinics. 10% of their clients were men and 31% reported that their male clientele had increased in the previous 5 years. During January through March 1995 follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with 25 selected clinics that reported a 10% male share of clients. The clinics were classified into 5 types: 1) 7 clinics with a family planning focus beginning to provide primary care to attract more men; 2) 7 clinics with a family planning focus using community outreach and the partners of female clients to recruit men for clinic services; 3) 6 primary health care clinics beginning to place more emphasis on male reproductive health; 4) 3 hospital-based clinics providing comprehensive and reproductive health care for young men; and 5) 2 school-based clinics providing sports physicals, primary health care, and reproductive health services. In Type 1 clinics males made up 10-40% of clients. They also screened for testicular cancer, and provided infertility, mental health, and nutrition counseling services. Type 2 clinics had an average of 10% male clients and offered male infertility services, nutrition counseling, and specific STD and HIV services for males in the Hispanic and immigrant communities. Type 3 clinics promoted the male role in family planning decision making and STD prevention. A substantial proportion of the clientele was low-income males, but men who came for vasectomies tended to have higher incomes. Type 4 clinics catered to 20-40% male clients with outreach programs for gay minority men, and sessions on stopping domestic violence, male role in family planning, and responsible parenthood. Type 5 clinics had 40-45% males and provided mental health counseling, HIV risk assessment, and screening for testicular cancer.