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
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u/Akussa Jan 07 '25

You’d be surprised what some women have had to endure when seeking elective sterilization. I live in a red state, and from the moment I was on my own, I asked every doctor I saw to approve the procedure because I never wanted kids. Every single one refused, saying it wasn’t medically necessary.

Multiple doctors told me they wouldn’t do it without my husband’s permission, as he might want children someday. I explained I wasn’t married and wouldn’t marry someone who wanted kids, as the relationship would be neither emotionally nor physically compatible. When that reasoning didn’t work, they shifted to saying I couldn’t possibly know what my future held. There was no point arguing.

One doctor even said I needed my father’s permission. When I actually got it, they still refused.

I’m post-menopause now, so the fight is over, but I shouldn’t have had to fight for it until menopause in the first place.

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u/DrummerNarrow3766 Jan 07 '25

In a blue state and elected for my tubal in 2023. Still got the run around up to the morning of surgery. “Are you sure” “what if you meet someone”. Also got the final “well as you get older men might have children already so it’ll be fine”. INSANE

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u/[deleted] Jan 07 '25

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u/danielravennest Jan 08 '25

They are following their oath, which says "first, do no harm". Any kind of surgery has risks. But once a doctor has informed you of the risks and potential consequences, then yeah, they should not stand in your way.

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u/ScottRiqui Jan 07 '25

I got my vasectomy onboard a U.S. Aircraft carrier while on deployment. The doctor (a fellow Navy 0-3) asked me to have my wife email him and tell him she was good with the surgery, but otherwise didn't push back or try to talk me out of it, even though I was only 30 and didn't have any kids.

On the day of the procedure, the anesthesiologist (a Navy 0-6) evidently had a problem with me getting snipped, and hearing the lieutenant doctor basically tell the captain anesthesiologist to "shut up and stay in his lane" was absolutely beautiful.

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u/mediocrefunny Jan 07 '25

Father's permission?!?

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u/kelskelsea Jan 07 '25

The moving the goal post with your father’s permission is absolutely hilarious.