r/science • u/mvea Professor | Medicine • Jan 06 '25

Health After the US overturned Roe v Wade, permanent contraception surged among young adults living in states likely to ban abortion, new research found. Compared to May 2022, August 2022 saw 95% more vasectomies and 70% more tubal sterilizations performed on people between the ages of 19 and 26.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jan/06/permanent-contraception-abortion-roe-v-wade
22.3k Upvotes

95% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

113

u/EducatorAdditional89 Jan 06 '25

At least they have a choice. In the 70’s a woman couldn’t be sterilized without spousal consent!

210

u/nekoshey Jan 07 '25

You'd be shocked at how true that still is, today.

20

u/EducatorAdditional89 Jan 07 '25

Wow that’s shocking!

80

u/Starlord_75 Jan 07 '25

Even worse, doctors refused to do it for a woman because a potential future husband might want to have kids

36

u/EducatorAdditional89 Jan 07 '25

I fought and marched in 60’s n 70’s and at 70 I’m still fighting and marching for all oppressed!

9

u/poppcorrn Jan 07 '25

Idk why but hearing that and hoping thats true made me cry a little. Do you ever feel like it's not worth it? :'(

23

u/EducatorAdditional89 Jan 07 '25

Worth every moment. I’ll continue until my last breath.

3

u/poppcorrn Jan 07 '25

I want your strength Thank you for the fight <3

3

u/NewlyNerfed Jan 07 '25

Doctors told me this in the ‘90s and ‘00s. In very blue cities and states.

-1

u/flakemasterflake Jan 07 '25

That is not why doctors refuse. They refuse bc the rates of them being SUED are astronomically high when the patient regrets their choice. It's always about liability

23

u/Doctor_Philgood Jan 07 '25

Yeah it's repulsive how difficult it is for women to get a doctor to agree to it.

8

u/99cooffeecups Jan 07 '25

It’s not easy for men either, the doctor asked what if me and my gf break up and the next gf wants a baby. She straight up didn’t want to do it over some hypothetical women.

7

u/Doctor_Philgood Jan 07 '25

I made the appointment the day Roe was struck down. He asked if I had spoke it over with my wife. I said "I don't want kids. And now, if I get someone pregnant, it can risk their life and livelihood due to the law." And that was that.

Again, my experience, take it with a grain of salt

38

u/pinkbowsandsarcasm MA | Psychology | Clinical Jan 07 '25

I can share with you that getting sterilized was a problem for women in the U.S. even recently. I know that when I was a younger woman with one child, I was denied a procedure that I needed for medical reasons and was told, "What if you want another child because something happens to your, current child?" I am not the only one. There is a Catholic hospital in Iowa that did not tell women ahead of time that if they asked for sterilization at the time of a c-section, they would refuse to do the procedure. I think they are recently required to tell women upfront about their policy instead of after having a baby.

8

u/EducatorAdditional89 Jan 07 '25

I’m sorry you and others experienced this, it’s horrific!

39

u/[deleted] Jan 07 '25

Don't worry, republicans are working hard to send you back to the 70s

26

u/ecafyelims Jan 07 '25

In order to get my vasectomy ~8 years ago, my wife had to sign a permission slip.

6

u/pinkbowsandsarcasm MA | Psychology | Clinical Jan 07 '25

Wow!

3

u/sharkbait-oo-haha Jan 07 '25

My brother in law got one through the Australian armed forces health care, my sister had to "give permission" and it's only offered 100% for free after they've had atleast 2 kids.

2 kids is all they wanted and it all fit their family planning/timing perfectly. But it's still a fucked system.

That was two years ago.

-8

u/Joker4U2C Jan 07 '25

Makes more or as much sense as needing it to withdraw from your 401k

5

u/merrycat Jan 07 '25

At least they have a choice.

For now.  Probably not by the end of 2025.

3

u/NewlyNerfed Jan 07 '25

In the ‘90s on through to today, I was never able to get the tubal ligation I wanted so badly. I had perfectly good reasons, including family health concerns (especially my mother’s extreme difficulties with pregnancy).

Doctor after doctor has told me no. “You might change your mind.” “No doctor will sterilize a healthy young woman.” Etc. I knew at age 5 I never wanted kids.

I’m 51 now and loathe the fact that I still have to worry about pregnancy. But, I am honestly relieved and delighted that this surgery is becoming more normalized, and I see more and more that women’s wishes (or actual needs in my and many cases) are being honored. I wish I had had it but I’m glad you do.

2

u/EducatorAdditional89 Jan 07 '25

Im so sorry you had to experience such disregard of a human right! Never give up!