15-1-2025 (TAIPEI) A Taiwanese plastic surgeon has garnered international attention after performing a vasectomy on himself and sharing the procedure online, with the video amassing over 2.3 million views and igniting discussions about male contraception.
Dr Chen Weinong, a licensed plastic surgeon in Taipei, conducted the unusual self-procedure on 8 January, documenting the entire process. What typically takes 15 minutes extended to an hour as Dr Chen navigated the challenges of operating on himself.
“I believe in myself more than anyone else,” Dr Chen explained, describing the procedure as “a gift to my wife.” The surgeon detailed how performing a self-vasectomy required significant flexibility and coordination, as the positioning differed substantially from operating on regular patients.
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The procedure was conducted under proper medical supervision, with three medical professionals present, including his wife, who is also a licensed surgeon, alongside a urology student and a male nurse. Dr Chen emphasised that the surgery was performed at his own expense and had no connection to health insurance claims.
Questions about the legality of the procedure prompted the Taipei City Health Bureau to investigate. Officials confirmed that as a qualified medical practitioner, Dr Chen was within his rights to perform the procedure, noting that he holds appropriate surgical credentials.
Deputy Director of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Lin Jingyi, revealed that self-performed vasectomies are not unprecedented among medical professionals. “It’s fairly common for urologists to perform their own sterilisation procedures or assist their male colleagues,” Lin stated, adding that male sterilisation is considerably less complex than female alternatives.
The viral video, which has attracted more than 5,000 comments, shows Dr Chen methodically performing each step of the procedure, from local anaesthesia to locating the vas deferens, excision, and suturing. The surgeon had initially planned the procedure last year but postponed it for further evaluation before proceeding this month.
