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More men are considering vasectomies, doctors say. P H O T O : PAV E L D A N I LY U K , P E X E L S
Men in Greater Cincinnati Are Lining Up for Men in Greater Cincinnati Are Lining Up for Vasectomies in the Wake of Roe v. Wade Vasectomies inbecoming the Wake ofuncertain Roe inv.OhioWade With the legality of birth control more and more and Kentucky, local seeingcontrol an uptick in appointments. With urologists the legalityare of birth becoming more and more uncertain in Ohio and Kentucky, BY M Aurologists DELINE FEN I N Gseeing an uptick in appointments. local are BY M A D E L I N E F E N I N G
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osh Rammel and his wife Megan planned on Josh getting a vasecosh Rammel and his wife Megan tomy after the birth of their first planned on Josh getting a vasecchild. tomy after the birth of their first “We discussed it even before our son child. was born,” Rammel tells CityBeat. “Here “We discussed it even before our son recently with stuff changing, it’s like, was born,” Rammel tells CityBeat. “Here OK, now’s the time to do it. Things aren’t recently with stuff changing, it’s like, looking good for how things could go OK, now’s the time to do it. Things aren’t from now into the future.” looking good for how things could go Rammel, of Perrysburg, is referring to from now into the future.” the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24 overRammel, of Perrysburg, is referring to turn of Roe v. Wade, which has caused the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 24 overa wave of laws outlawing abortion care turn of Roe v. Wade, which has caused across the country. Immediately after a wave of laws outlawing abortion care the court’s decision, Ohio decreased across the country. Immediately after legal abortion access to six weeks gestathe court’s decision, Ohio decreased tion, before many people even know legal abortion access to six weeks gestathey are pregnant. tion, before many people even know The Supreme Court decision, which they are pregnant. was previewed in a leaked draft opinion The Supreme Court decision, which in May, seems to have caused a spike was previewed in a leaked draft opinion in vasectomy appointments. In June, in May, seems to have caused a spike The Urology Group, a Cincinnati-based in vasectomy appointments. In June, urology practice, performed an 18.8% The Urology Group, a Cincinnati-based increase of vasectomy procedures over urology practice, performed an 18.8% that same month last year, according to increase of vasectomy procedures over data from the provider. July’s scheduled that same month last year, according to data from the provider. July’s scheduled
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vasectomies will be a 59.6% increase over those performed in July 2021, the vasectomies will be a 59.6% increase medical provider says. over those performed in July 2021, the Andrew, from Independence, Kenmedical provider says. tucky, is part of the wave of vasectomy Andrew, from Independence, Kenappointments being scheduled. His tucky, is part of the wave of vasectomy wife had a rough time during her last appointments being scheduled. His pregnancy, and she has an intrauterine wife had a rough time during her last device (IUD), a form of birth control that pregnancy, and she has an intrauterine he says carries an added risk for ectopic device (IUD), a form of birth control that pregnancy (the Mayo Clinic says that he says carries an added risk for ectopic becoming pregnant with an IUD in place pregnancy (the Mayo Clinic says that can increase the chance of an ectopic becoming pregnant with an IUD in place pregnancy). In an ectopic pregnancy, a can increase the chance of an ectopic fertilized egg lands outside the uterus pregnancy). In an ectopic pregnancy, a and becomes life-threatening for the fertilized egg lands outside the uterus pregnant person, Cleveland Clinic says. and becomes life-threatening for the “I feel like I have to make the right pregnant person, Cleveland Clinic says. choice for my family,” says Andrew, who “I feel like I have to make the right has requested that CityBeat withhold his choice for my family,” says Andrew, who last name. has requested that CityBeat withhold his Even though Andrew finds that his last name. vasectomy could be a safer option for Even though Andrew finds that his family planning, the IUD his wife curvasectomy could be a safer option for rently uses may no longer be an option family planning, the IUD his wife curin the future. rently uses may no longer be an option Like Andrew, Rammel also is thinking in the future. ahead. Like Andrew, Rammel also is thinking ahead.
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“I went to law school, so I can look at this and kinda see the reasoning for the “I went to law school, so I can look at reversal for Roe v. Wade and see how it this and kinda see the reasoning for the can impact other things,” Rammel says. reversal for Roe v. Wade and see how it “Certain forms of birth control are a poscan impact other things,” Rammel says. sibility to not be around in the future.” “Certain forms of birth control are a posAn Ohio lawmaker recently introsibility to not be around in the future.” duced a bill that broadly defines a fertilAn Ohio lawmaker recently introized egg as a person, raising questions duced a bill that broadly defines a fertilabout the future of certain forms of birth ized egg as a person, raising questions control that could prevent implantation about the future of certain forms of birth of an embryo (the science and medical control that could prevent implantation communities do not have consensus on of an embryo (the science and medical when personhood begins). communities do not have consensus on when personhood begins).
Vasectomy, reversal and Roe v. Wadereversal and Vasectomy,
Vasectomies typically are quick proRoe v. Wade cedures that allow the patient to stay Vasectomies typically are quick proawake and drive home after. In contrast, cedures that allow the patient to stay forms of sterilization for uteruses, such awake and drive home after. In contrast, as tubal ligation, often are much more forms of sterilization for uteruses, such involved and require a longer healing as tubal ligation, often are much more period. Tubal ligation is also considered involved and require a longer healing permanent; any attempt at a reversal period. Tubal ligation is also considered is considered major surgery, according permanent; any attempt at a reversal to the Mayo Clinic. Vasectomies, on the is considered major surgery, according to the Mayo Clinic. Vasectomies, on the
other hand, have a greater chance of being reversed. other hand, have a greater chance of With the right to full abortion care being reversed. diminishing and the right to birth With the right to full abortion care control coming into question since the diminishing and the right to birth fall of Roe, some urologists worry that control coming into question since the patients may seek vasectomies hastily fall of Roe, some urologists worry that and attempt to reverse the procedure patients may seek vasectomies hastily down the road. and attempt to reverse the procedure “What we tell everybody is this down the road. should be considered a form of perma“What we tell everybody is this nent sterilization,” says Dr. Ryan Flynn should be considered a form of permawith The Urology Group. “I had a young nent sterilization,” says Dr. Ryan Flynn guy who came into my practice and with The Urology Group. “I had a young said, ‘I’ll just get my vasectomy now guy who came into my practice and and when I’m ready to have kids I’ll just said, ‘I’ll just get my vasectomy now get it reversed,’ and I tell them that is and when I’m ready to have kids I’ll just not the way to go.” get it reversed,’ and I tell them that is Flynn says a vasectomy, while techninot the way to go.” cally reversible, is not designed to be Flynn says a vasectomy, while technitemporary. cally reversible, is not designed to be “A vasectomy is a medical procedure temporary. in which we remove part of the vas def“A vasectomy is a medical procedure erens, which is the tube that connects in which we remove part of the vas defthe testicles to the outside world,” Flynn erens, which is the tube that connects says. “Cutting out that segment and the testicles to the outside world,” Flynn cauterizing, we want to make it as difsays. “Cutting out that segment and ficult as possible for things to find their cauterizing, we want to make it as difficult as possible for things to find their
