According to a recent NPR report, there’s a noticeable spike in vasectomy appointments every March. Some clinics even advertise the procedure with the promise that you can recover while lounging at home, binge-watching basketball games.
A friend of mine, let’s call him Jake, actually pulled this off a few years back. He casually mentioned taking a couple of weeks off for a procedure and sent me a sly wink. “Why the wink?” I asked. “Because it’s March Madness,” he replied, unveiling his plan to get a vasectomy and then spend his recovery time glued to the couch watching basketball. At the time, I simply shrugged and said, “Good for you.”
I work in a Division I athletics program, but I’m on the academic side, encouraging student-athletes to focus on their studies. While I’m not particularly passionate about sports, I find it puzzling that some men need an annual basketball tournament to finally consider getting a vasectomy.
I underwent the procedure last year, and while it was uncomfortable, it paled in comparison to my wife’s three C-sections, which I witnessed firsthand. Those experiences were intense, as I watched medical staff pull our child from an incision in her abdomen. My own vasectomy involved two small incisions, each about the size of a nickel.
In less than an hour, I was done. While I didn’t spend my recovery watching basketball, I did enjoy some Netflix while icing my “sensitive areas.” A week later, I was back at work. My wife took a month to recover from her surgeries, and I felt it was unfair to ask her to go through that again just because I was hesitant about a minor procedure.
The conversation around vasectomies gets even more complicated when you consider insurance. The Affordable Care Act mandates coverage for contraceptives without additional costs, but vasectomies aren’t included. The procedure typically costs around $500, with some doctors charging as much as $1,000. The ACA largely treats contraception as a women’s health issue, leaving men’s options in a different category. Recently, a group of doctors attempted to change this, gathering over 12,000 signatures on a petition. However, under the Trump administration, efforts to eliminate the contraception mandate have gained traction.
In a bizarre twist, some radio stations offer free vasectomies during March Madness as a promotional event. Contestants argue on-air about why they deserve a free procedure, with the winner receiving a vasectomy and a live broadcast of the event.
If you’re a woman reading this and think it’s all a bit strange, trust me, I get it. I was fortunate to have insurance that covered my vasectomy, so the cost wasn’t a significant concern for me. However, like many men, I hesitated to get the procedure done—not out of spite, but simply because it wasn’t something I looked forward to. For that, I owe my wife an apology.
According to the CDC, about 5% of women rely on their partner’s vasectomy for contraception, while 20% have undergone sterilization themselves—often a more invasive and costly procedure. I can see why some families might opt for female sterilization if it’s covered by insurance and a vasectomy is not. As a father of three, I understand how crucial insurance coverage and deductibles are when making family decisions.
Ultimately, the topic of contraception and family planning is complex, involving emotions and financial considerations. If you’re a man contemplating a vasectomy, consider the sacrifices your partner has made over the years. Women have endured the physical toll of pregnancy, childbirth, and recovery, often while managing the household.
If March Madness is the reason you decide to get a vasectomy, it might be time to reflect on your values and motivations beyond just the basketball games flashing on your screen.
For more insights on family planning, check out this article from our blog. And if you’re considering at-home options, visit Make a Mom, a reputable retailer of at-home insemination syringe kits. For comprehensive information about pregnancy and home insemination, MedlinePlus offers excellent resources.
In summary, while March Madness may seem like a quirky excuse for a vasectomy, it’s essential to take a step back and consider the broader implications of family planning and the sacrifices involved.