Vasectomies in Iowa have increased since overturning of Roe v. Wade
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Vasectomies at Lakeview Center for Urology in West Des Moines have more than doubled since Roe v. Wade was overturned in June, Fawad Zafar, a doctor there, tells Axios.
Why it matters: Lakeview's experience isn't isolated, marking what could be a significant shift in the evolution of the attitudes about a man's role in family planning.
- Doctors across the country are reporting surges in the procedure's popularity, The Washington Post reports.
Catch up quick: Decisions about abortion access are now largely in the hands of state governments.
- For now, abortion remains legal during the first 20 weeks of pregnancy in Iowa but Gov. Kim Reynolds is working to further restrict the procedure.
State of play: Dozens of Iowa's obstetric units and birthing centers have closed since 2000, creating what some refer to as a maternal/child health desert.
- The longtime demise of family-planning and care options has resulted in a change in psyche among men, The Post reports.
- A Generation Lab poll in May found that 11% of men would be more likely to get a vasectomy if abortion was illegal, Axios' Shawna Chen reports.
Zoom in: Lakeview is now performing more than 60 vasectomies a month and has extended its hours to accommodate the demand, Zafar said.
- Both single men and those in relationships are increasingly seeking the procedure. And the majority don't have children, Zafar said.
Of note: Vasectomies generally cost around $1,000, according to NerdWallet.
- They can be successfully reversed in most cases, according to an analysis published last year in the journal SN Comprehensive Clinical Medicine.
Big picture: It's unclear if the recent uptick in vasectomies at some facilities is a blip or the start of a long-term trend, The New York Times reports.
- Planned Parenthood North Central States, which operates in DSM, saw a small increase in questions about the procedure — which it doesn't offer — soon after the Supreme Court ruling. But that has since leveled off, spokesperson Sheena Dooley told Axios.
- Broadlawns Medical Center's Urology Clinic has not seen an increase in demand, spokesperson Katie Wengert told Axios.