INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: It has been theorized that utilization of permanent contraceptive methods may vary with economic conditions. Here we evaluate the relationship between vasectomy/vasectomy reversal frequencies at several large referral centers with national economic indicators over a period of two recessions spanning 2001 to 2011.
METHODS: An IRB approved retrospective chart review was conducted to identify the number of vasectomies/vasectomy reversals per month at several large referral centers from January 2001 to July 2011. The incidences of these procedures were pooled, correlated with national economic data, and analyzed in a multivariate-linear regression model.
RESULTS: There were 4599 vasectomies and 1549 vasectomy reversals performed at our institutions during the study period. The number of vasectomies performed per month was positively correlated to the unemployment rate (r = +0.556, P < 0.001) and personal income per capita (r = +0.276, P = 0.002). The number of vasectomy reversals performed per month was negatively correlated with the unemployment rate (r = -0.399, P < 0.001) and personal income per capita (r = -0.305, P < 0.001). Neither vasectomy nor vasectomy reversal frequencies significantly correlated with the inflation rate or the S&P 500. Regression models confirmed that the unemployment rate explained more of the variance in vasectomy/vasectomy reversal frequencies than other indicators.
CONCLUSIONS: We noted a correlation between the number of vasectomies/vasectomy reversals performed at our institutions and national economic indicators, with the strongest association with unemployment rate. This points to the importance of financial pressures on family planning decisions.
Written by:
Sharma V1, Zargaroff S1, Sheth KR2, Le BV3, Dupree JM4, Sandlow JI5, Polackwich AS6, Hedges JC6, Fuchs EF6, Goldstein M7, Brannigan RE8 Are you the author?
1Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Urology. 2University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Urology. 3Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Department of Urology. 4Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Urology. 5Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Urology. 6Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Urology. 7Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University, Department of Urology and Institute for Reproductive Medicine and The Population Council, Center for Biomedical Research. 8Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Department of Urology. Electronic address: .
Reference: J Urol. 2014 Jan 11 (Epub ahead of print)
doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2013.12.045
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24423435
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