Vasectomy rates up

Hmmm, this is kind of interesting:

Doctors around the United States are reporting a sharp increase in the number of vasectomies performed since the economy soured last year, with one noting that many of his clients are from the beleaguered financial industry.

Their best guess is that the trend is due both to a decreased desire to have children because of the expense involved, and an increased desire to get such medical procedures done before their jobs -- and health insurance -- disappear.

Since November, Dr. Marc Goldstein, surgeon-in-chief of male reproductive medicine and surgery at the Cornell Institute for Reproductive Medicine in New York City, said his practice has seen about 48 percent more vasectomy consultations compared to the same time the previous year.

Nearly 50 percent of the patients in 2008 were employed within the financial industry, and more than 36 percent were seen since September, according to unpublished data from the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine and Microsurgery at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.

I wonder if when the recession turns around, these men might regret their decision. Perhaps not, many men who get vasectomies generally seem relieved--depending on why they got the vasectomy. Here is a site that has some advice for men considering a vasectomy that looked pretty decent and seemed to indicate that men who thought through their decision felt okay about it. On the other hand, there are books like If It Works, Don't Fix It: What Every Man Should Know Before Having a Vasectomy that tells the story of a man who had a botched vasectomy but I imagine this is rare. Anyway, if you have an opinion on the topic, share it in the comments.