Snip Snip, Hooray! The Vasectomy Boom is Here.  

Why more men are exploring permanent birth control.  

On a random Monday afternoon in March, Hilary Duff's husband, Matthew Koma, found he had gone viral after documenting a hilarious recap of his vasectomy experience on his Instagram account. Koma underwent the procedure while the couple was expecting their third – and final – child, a growing trend amongst American families.   

In addition to getting our seal of approval for demystifying the male birth control procedure, stating, "It's honestly not bad at all, like better than going to the dentist for sure!" The musician also inspired his followers to explore vasectomies for themselves. Koma is one of several male celebrities to undergo the procedure and encourage others to explore it in recent months, including Dax Shepard, Ashton Kutcher, Rob Delaney, Slim Thug, Tyler Hubbard, Kane Brown, and more.  

But vasectomies aren't just for families that don't want any more children. In fact, in the last two years, the typical demographic for people seeking vasectomies has shifted away from married men who are done having children and diversified to include men of all ages, sexual orientations, and family sizes.   

Immediately following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade in 2022, Google saw the highest volume of searches for "vasectomy" in the past five years. According to the International Journal of Impotence Research, there was a 35% uptick in vasectomy consultation requests and a 22% increase in actual consultations after the Dobbs decision. Even more interesting, the men seeking vasectomies were younger than before, and a higher number of them did not have any children to begin with.  

One benefit of making vasectomies more accessible is to ease the burden of birth control on their partners. Partners are realizing that women shouldn't be the only ones using birth control, and many men concerned for their partner’s reproductive rights and health are finding vasectomies as a permanent solution. Additionally, vasectomies are found to be nearly ten times cheaper than the cost of female sterilization, in addition to being less complicated, less painful, and more successful.   

Another celebrity, Eric Decker, the husband of country music star Jesse James Decker, originally went on record in 2022 saying the procedure concerned him, saying, "It's a little power being taken. That's how I feel. I'm a little nervous about it, to be honest." When asked about her husband's hesitancy, Decker said, "He says it takes his manhood away from him." However, after being educated about what happens during and after the procedure, the star has it scheduled for this spring.   

This is a common fear, though there's no truth behind it. There are no changes to sexual function, testosterone levels, or ejaculation ability after vasectomy. The majority of a man's ejaculation comes from the prostate and seminal vesicles located downstream from the site of the vasectomy. The actual sperm cells, which are blocked after a vasectomy, make up only 2% to 3% of the seminal fluid. It won't change the way having an orgasm or ejaculating feels. Semen will still look, feel, and taste the same after a vasectomy.  

Perhaps even more importantly, sex can get better and more spontaneous when you and your partner can focus on each other instead of birth control. You can get caught up in the heat of the moment WITHOUT worrying about pregnancy.  

That's the mindset of hundreds of men who opt to get vasectomies each March, just as March Madness is kicking off. At Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida, we encourage people who have been considering a vasectomy to take the shot during March Madness. If doctor's orders require you to sit on the couch for a few days, you might as well do it when you can watch the country's top college basketball teams take the court to battle for the NCAA title.  

"Typically, patients will schedule a vasectomy toward the end of the week. By Monday or Tuesday, you're recovered," Dr. Chelsea Daniels said.   

We are proud to offer the no-scalpel method vasectomy procedure: the provider makes one small puncture (hole) to reach the tubes, then ties them off, cauterizes, or blocks them. There is no cut or incision made. The procedure takes only 10-15 minutes, and the appointment lasts about an hour. You go home the same day after your procedure and can return to regular activity within 2-3 days and return to exercising and lifting within seven days. Around three months after a vasectomy, you'll still have the same amount of semen you did before; there won't be any sperm in it, so it can't cause pregnancy!  

A vasectomy is the most effective type of birth control out there. It is almost 100% effective in preventing pregnancies for people with penises and testicles for the rest of their lives. So, are you ready to schedule your vasectomy appointment?   

Call 800-230-PLAN to start the consultation process and get your questions answered today!