Bad Economy Encourages More Vasectomies

Family planning clinics throughout the Northwest are seeing a 50 percent increase in patients, and a noticeable change in economy-driven behavior, with requests for vasectomies and birth control prescriptions on the rise. As the economy sours with more pink slips, the idea of starting or growing a family seems to be the last thing on the minds of the unemployed and uninsured. With more pregnancy prevention alternatives available, Planned Parenthood clinics in the Northwest have seen a seven percent drop in abortion cases, while over the past three months in 2009, there has been a reported sharp increase of 14.6 men (8.6 in late 2008) seeking vasectomies a month.

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By Kim P. in News on April 28, 2009 12:30 PM

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jdavin

I love it when the media uses numbers that have no statistical significance (because the sample set is too small) to jump to the conclusions they want.

Going from 8.6 men to 14.6 men is not necessarily statistically significant. That's a sample set of far less than 25, and a difference of 6 men could easily be coincidence. Also, they're comparing last quarter 2008 with first quarter 2009, which is not fair. That makes the large assumption that there is no seasonal correlation to vasectomy rates.

Troy Morris

This makes me worried that Idiocracy.

Troy Morris

Will come true.

Seattle Antagonist

Getting a vasectomy due to an ailing economy doesn't seem to be a very well thought out plan. Eventually the economy will be rectified, and these people will want to be able to have children. Vasectomies reversals are only 50%-70% effective.

Darwinism at its best.