Dudes Who Are Finished Having Children Can Go to Planned Parenthood for Their Vasectomies
For a monogamous heterosexual couple that has decided to stop having children–or that has decided never to start–a vasectomy can be a godsend. It’s a safe, effective, permanent surgical procedure that is relatively easy and inexpensive, and it comes with the peace of mind of knowing that there will be no buns in anybody’s oven.
Not everything goes perfectly with vasectomies, however. One Redditor posted to Reddit’s Personal Finance forum asking for advice about an insurance claim, because the insurance company and hospital were being difficult regarding the price of his vasectomy. It sounds like a colossal pain for him, and the guy has been stuck with an enormous bill. But what struck me most about the thread is that a couple guys mentioned getting vasectomies from Planned Parenthood, which is a service I did not know they provided.
One commenter reported that he had received a vasectomy from Planned Parenthood, and said the organization was helpful in determining payment for people who did not have insurance or might be a bit financially strapped. The Planned Parenthood website says a vasectomy can run from zero to $1,000. He says his cost only $700, including the consultation, surgery, and post-surgery sperm count test, which is vital to make sure that the vasectomy is well and finished and man is not accidentally going to impregnate someone with his last few hangers-on.
That’s a pretty glowing recommendation, and a few of the following commenters were stunned to learn that Planned Parenthood provided vasectomies, and that’s information that a lot of people could probably use.
It does make sense that Planned Parenthood would perform vasectomies–as one Redditor rather snarkily pointed out, it is called “Planned Parenthood” not “Planned Mommyhood,” but a quick straw poll of the people sitting around me indicated that I was not the only person who had been unaware that our friendly neighborhood reproductive health clinic provided such a a service.
People looking to acquire vasectomies can contact a Planned Parenthood health center for more information. Vasectomies are just one of the many valuable services Planned Parenthood provides, including STD tests and screenings, prostate exams, cancer screenings, birth control, education, etc. Certain politicians think that getting rid of Planned Parenthood would eliminate abortion, but it certainly seems like having access to the reproductive health care they provide is one of the better ways to reduce the number of unwanted pregnancies before they ever start.
(Photo: Energyy/iStockPhoto/Getty Images)
