Vasectomies Are Going Viral After the Roe v. Wade Leak, But They Aren ’t a Solution to Abortion Bans

For Trevor, a 35-year-old musician in Arizona, the decision to get a vasectomy was easy. He and his wife have long known that they didn’t want children, so the procedure has always been in the back of his mind. But after learning about the U.S. Supreme Court’s leaked draft decision to overturn Roe v. Wade—which could still change before it becomes final, likely in late June—“It was like, ‘Why am I holding off at this point?’” Trevor says. “It’s such a big thing that I can take care of for my wife and I so easily, so why not?” Trevor (who asked to use only his first name to protect his privacy) is waiting to learn whether his state-provided insurance will cover the procedure, but says he’ll move forward even if he has to pay for some costs himself. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Anecdotally, there are many reports of people considering the same. Google searches for terms like “how much is a vasectomy” and “how to get a vasectomy” surged after Politico broke the news about the leak on May 2, particularly in states where abortion access is under attack, like Texas, Utah, and Missouri. Searches for “tubal ligation,” otherwise known as tube-tying or female sterilization, also increased significantly after the leak. And social media was filled with posts urging men to get vasectomies. “Men, It’s Time to Consider a Vasectomy,” reads a recent S...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized healthscienceclimate Public Health Source Type: news