A research letter published in JAMA Health Forum sheds light on the impact of overturning the national right to abortion on “permanent contraception” procedures, particularly among young adults. This study, the first of its kind, examines the trends in sterilization procedures following the landmark decision.
Lead author Jacqueline Ellison from the University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health emphasized the pronounced increase in sterilization procedures among young women compared to men. This gender disparity is attributed to the disproportionate burden placed on women in preventing pregnancy, coupled with the heightened health, social, and economic consequences of abortion bans.
Sterilization procedures are not only more complex but also significantly more expensive for women compared to men, with the cost disparity ranging from two to six times higher. Additionally, the irreversible nature of female sterilization, necessitating invasive surgery for reversal, further contributes to the gender imbalance in sterilization rates.
The study, utilizing medical record data from large academic medical centers and affiliated clinics through the TriNetX platform, focused on individuals aged 18 to 30, a demographic more likely to undergo abortions and subsequently regret sterilization procedures.
Analysis of the data revealed a gradual increase in sterilization rates leading up to the June 2022 court decision. However, following the ruling, there was an immediate surge in sterilization procedures for both genders, with women experiencing a disproportionately higher increase compared to men.
While the rate of men seeking vasectomies returned to pre-decision levels after the initial spike, the rate of women undergoing tubal sterilizations continued to rise at an accelerated pace post-ruling.
