Author 167cm·Wife 155cm
Worried Because Wife Wants a Child
"Don't Want to Pass on Short Stature" Confesses
A story about a man considering vasectomy because he does not want to pass on his short stature has sparked heated debate among netizens.
On the 1st, a post titled "Short-statured couple (a newly coined term referring to short men and women)" was uploaded on an online community. The post became a major topic, recording 32,000 views and 180 comments. The author, Mr. A, began by saying, "My height is 167 cm, and my wife's height is 155 cm."
Mr. A shared, "My wife wants to have children, but I want to break the chain of short stature in my generation. If we are lucky enough to have a daughter, maybe it’s different, but if we have a son, there’s a high chance he will be short, and I don’t want to pass on a life like mine." He continued, "I decided to have a vasectomy just in case, but I’m curious if the side effects after vasectomy are severe."
Netizens who read Mr. A’s story responded with comments such as, "Discuss this with your wife before posting," "What’s wrong with being short?" "That’s not even that short," "Being short doesn’t prevent you from doing anything," and "This isn’t a decision to make alone, so consult with your family elders as well." Netizen B, who is in a similar situation, said, "I have already had a vasectomy," but added, "However, when I see children playing around the apartment these days, they are so cute that I regret it. If a child is born, maybe try massages to help them grow taller and make efforts afterward."
On the other hand, a few minority netizens commented, "There are definitely disadvantages to being short," "If you get your wife’s permission, it seems like a good idea," and "There are limits even to height-increasing injections."
Meanwhile, although height is largely influenced by genetics, research shows that with proper care and attention, children can grow 7 to 8 cm taller than their genetic potential. Genes play an important role in height, but environmental factors also have a significant impact. Proper diet, sufficient sleep, regular exercise, and healthy lifestyle habits greatly affect growth and development. While some aspects are determined by genetics, height growth is possible if environmental factors are well managed. Growth rate also affects height, and since it varies from person to person, there is no need to be impatient.
According to the 2021 height distribution chart released by the Military Manpower Administration, the average height for men is 174.1 cm. Among 254,361 individuals, the largest group (84,979 people) falls within the 171?175 cm range. The shortest height recorded was below 137 cm (6 people), and the tallest was above 201 cm (4 people). Mr. A falls within the 166?170 cm range, which includes 55,573 people, so it is difficult to consider his height as short.
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