Vasectomies were sought after the reversal of Roe v. Wade

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PLEASANT HILL, Iowa – Discussions about pregnancy have been in the spotlight since the Supreme Court’s decision to strike down federal abortion protections this summer. While most of the conversation focused on women, a local vasectomy doctor said the decision is leading to a rush for male contraception.

“Within the first 48 hours of Dobbs’ decision, 20 people applied for vasectomy,” said Dr. Esgar Guarin of SimpleVas Vasectomy Clinic in Pleasant Hill. “The total number of vasectomies we performed in the month of June was 41. In July, we performed 79.”

Guarin said demand for vasectomies has remained consistently high since Roe v. Wade was overturned, including from some unlikely groups.

“There are a lot of men in their mid-30s to late 30s who have already decided not to have children, but haven’t done anything permanent to guarantee it,” Guarin said.

Guarin also offers a choose amount of free vasectomies in November for World Vasectomy Day, with registration from Friday.

Although interest seems to be high, Guarin said there is still a stigma surrounding the procedure.

“We’re left with a bunch of corny jokes about vasectomies, and we need to change that narrative,” Guarin said.

Although he is encouraged to see a change in attitudes towards vasectomies, he is disappointed that it has happened under these circumstances.

“There are patients who come to me who are afraid that there are some methods of contraception that could be considered illegal,” Guarin said. “It seems that it took limiting an individual’s rights to choose their own body for a colleague to say, ‘You know what? We can do something too.'”