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Why are more men seeking vasectomies in the US?

Urologists in the US report an increase in the numbers of men requesting vasectomies. Dr Philip Werthman, a urologist in Los Angeles, explains that a vasectomy provides a permanent form of sterilisation as the procedure keeps sperm out of a man's semen, and that in in the last month he's seen a "significant increase" in people wanting to know about vasectomies or coming in to obtain one.

Dr Werthman says he's unsure whether this is related to the overturning of Roe v Wade. Other factors he thinks may be at play are the end of the pandemic, as life and social contacts resume, and an economic downturn, whereby people are less keen to have children. Men may also want to take control of reproducing children, particularly when women will find it hard to seek abortions following the overturning of Roe v Wade - the 1973 law that gave women in the US the constitutional right to abortion.

Photo: A man and nurse in consultation Credit: Getty Images

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