Some men are being forced to reconsider their reproductive health decisions due to restrictions in some states. Some doctors are hearing more requests from male patients for vasectomies since the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling this summer overturning Roe v. Wade .
“It shouldn’t be on women to get up and have children, you know?” Dustin May of St. Louis says shortly after his vasectomy at a Planned Parenthood facility. Vasectomies, which prevent sperm being released in the fetus, are an outpatient permanent sterilization procedure.
Courtney Price, May’s girlfriend, and he have known for many years that they don’t want to have children.
He said, “If she became pregnant, an abortion would also be something we would consider.” “This is a way to stop that.”
Price claims she has tried many types of birth control. All had side effects. May and Price are still in their 20s. Price however says that they both knew from their first date, more than three decades ago, that neither of them wanted to be parents.
“I’m like ‘Kids?’ and he’s like ‘No.’ I am like ‘Thank God!
There are few other options for restrictive abortion states
Since June’s Dobbs-v. Jackson Women’s Health decision, abortion has been illegal in Missouri, and around a dozen other states. Many Republican legislators in many states are pushing for more restrictions.
Although the Planned Parenthood St. Louis clinic used to offer abortions, NPR recently discovered that they were hosting a free vasectomy clinic at three locations in Missouri for three days. Planned Parenthood normally charges up until $1,000, even if the procedure is not covered by insurance.
Dr. Esgar Guarin, a vasectomy specialist based in Iowa, reported that his website saw an increase in traffic immediately after the Dobbs decision. The number of patients who came for procedures almost doubled between June and July.
Guarin, who was involved in the Missouri vasectomy clinic, says, “What has happened? That Roe v. Wade has been overturned, many people have realized that they may have been absent in contraception decisions, especially contraceptive ones.”
Guarin’s work is not unique. NPR was told by a spokesperson from the American Urological Association that although national data aren’t yet available, many healthcare providers across the country have reported an increase in vasectomies over the past few months.
Permanent with minimal risk
Guarin claims that vasectomies can be permanent and take only 10 minutes for a skilled surgeon. They are also less invasive that tubal ligation which involves cutting or blocking fallopian tubes in order to prevent pregnancy. They are less likely to fail than other forms of birth control, such as condoms, and they are better than other contraceptives like the pill.
Assistant professor of urology at Cleveland Clinic Dr. Sarah Vij says vasectomies have “risen to record levels” since Dobbs. Ruth Richardson, the CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States (Midwest), says that the organization received an “surge” in calls after the decision.
New York’s Dr. Meera Shah is the chief medical officer at Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic. Patients are calling her with similar concerns.
Shah said that they have been considering it for some time and now the events in this country have motivated them even more to undergo vasectomy.
Some downsides
However, there are always downsides. Shah informs patients that sometimes vasectomy reversals can be possible, but they are not guaranteed.
“If someone is going to a vasectomy and says, “Oh, it can be reversed,” then I tell them that they might not be a good candidate.
Shah said that some patients may choose to freeze their eggs before the procedure to preserve more options should they wish to have children in the future.
Collin Mack, another patient at Planned Parenthood St. Louis, said he has been longing for a vasectomy but waited to do so because he doesn’t like taking rash decisions.
Mack now says that he is concerned about the inability to access abortion. Mack likes the idea that he can control his fertility and not rely on his female partner for contraceptive decisions.
Mack, who was 24 at the time, said he felt confident about his decision. However, he convinced his grandparents to fund freezing some sperm for him as a backup option in case he changed his mind. The average cost of sperm storage is several hundred USD per year.
“I played the game of like,” Mack said. Mack states that you guys seem to be the most concerned about the procedure. He suggests that you invest money in me freezing your sperm. “I don’t worry about it. “I would prefer not to have children – that’s the decision that I will make.”
Dr. Guarin said that many of his patients are younger men in their 30s and 40s. Many used to rely on their female partners for contraception, but no longer feel comfortable doing so.
He says, “I hope that this is an inflection moment in reproductive rights in America for men.”
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