NPR – Restrictions on abortion in many states are prompting some men to rethink their reproductive health decisions.
Since this summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, some doctors say they’re hearing from a growing number of male patients asking for vasectomies.
“It shouldn’t just be on women to step up and not have kids, you know?” says Dustin May, of St. Louis, shortly after his vasectomy procedure at a Planned Parenthood clinic.
Vasecomies are outpatient permanent sterilization procedures that block sperm from being released in semen.
May and his girlfriend, Courtney Price, have known for years that they don’t want children.
“In addition to being permanent, vasectomies are relatively quick – about 10 minutes for a skilled surgeon.”
“If she got pregnant, an abortion would be something that we would consider… This is a step to prevent that.”
Price says she’s tried several types of birth control, all with unpleasant side effects. May and Price are both still in their 20’s, but Price says they knew from their first date more than three years ago that neither one of them wanted to become parents.
“I’m like, ‘Kids?’ And he’s like, ‘No.’ I’m like, ‘Thank God!’ ”
Few other options in restrictive abortion states
As of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health decision in June, abortion is illegal in Missouri and roughly a dozen other states, with Republican lawmakers in many states pushing to pass more restrictions in the future.
The Planned Parenthood clinic in St. Louis used to provide abortions, but on a recent day NPR visited, the health center was hosting a free vasectomy clinic at three different locations around Missouri over three days.
Normally, if not covered by a patient’s insurance, Planned Parenthood charges up to $1,000 for the procedure …
