Dr. Esgar Guarn has a mobile vasectomy clinic.
Sarah McCammon/NPRMen are rethinking their reproductive health decisions because of the restrictions on abortion. Some doctors say they're hearing more and more requests from male patients for vasectomies.
"It shouldn't be on women to step up and not have kids, you know what I mean?" asks May, who had a vasectomy at a clinic. Permanent sterilizing procedures called vasecomies block sperm from being released in semen.
They have known for a long time that they don't want children.
We would consider an abortion if she got pregnant. This is a way to stop that.
Several types of birth control have unpleasant side effects. Price says that he and May knew from their first date that neither of them wanted to have children.
"I'm not sure what to think." He's like, "No." I'm thankful.
In the wake of the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health decision, abortion is illegal in Missouri and a number of other states, with Republican lawmakers pushing to pass more restrictions in the future.
The health center in St. Louis used to offer abortions, but on a recent day they were giving out free vasectomies. If a patient's insurance doesn't cover the procedure, it usually costs up to $1,000.
The number of patients coming for vasectomies nearly doubled from June to July as a result of the Dobbs decision.
Many men have realized that they may not have been involved in contraceptive decisions since the Supreme Court's decision in Wade.
There is a practice like Guarn's. While national data isn't available, healthcare providers around the country have anecdotally reported seeing increased demand for vasectomies.
There are images of sperm in the mobile vasectomy clinic.
Sarah McCammon/NPRVasectomies are permanent and can be done in about 10 minutes. tubal ligation involves cutting or blocking the fallopian tubes in order to prevent pregnancies. They have a lower failure rate than other types of contraceptives and are more effective than the pill.
Vij is an assistant professor of urology at the Cleveland Clinic. There was a surge of calls to the organization after the decision.
In New York, Dr. Meera Shah is getting calls from people who want to have a vasectomy.
Shah says that what's happening in this country has motivated them to get the vasectomy.
There can be bad things. Sometimes vasectomy reversals are possible, but never guaranteed, according to Shah.
"If someone is going into a vasectomy and says that it can be reversed, then I don't think they are a good candidate for it."
Some patients choose to freeze their sperm in order to keep more options open should they decide to try to have a child in the future, according to Shah.
"I waited because I don't like making rash decisions and that's why I've been wanting a vasectomy for several years."
Mack is worried about the lack of access to abortions. He likes the idea of being in control of his fertility instead of relying on a female partner's contraceptive decisions.
Mack persuaded his grandparents to help fund the cost of freezing sperm in case he ever changes his mind about having a baby. The cost of storing sperm is hundreds of dollars a year.
I asked if you guys wanted me to have children. Mack says that you guys should give him money to freeze the sperm because you seem upset about it. I don't worry about it. I'm going to stick with my decision not to have children.
Many of the recent patients have been young men in their 30s, as well as couples, according to Dr. Guarn. Many relied on their female partners for contraceptives and no longer feel confident doing so.
He hopes that this is the beginning of reproductive rights for men in America.
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