Uninsured patients can receive free vasectomies in Springfield, Joplin in November

Planned Parenthood of the St. Louis Region and Southwest Missouri is offering free vasectomies to uninsured patients in Springfield on Nov. 4 and in Joplin on Nov. 5. Vasectomy appointments will be offered from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

To be eligible, patients must complete a pre-screening exam by Nov. 3. They can schedule an appointment by calling 800-230-7526.

After the Supreme Court of the United States overturned Roe v. Wade in June, where Missouri banned abortions, PPSLR saw demand for male sterilization procedures increase.

"Since the Dobbs decision we have seen an increasing number of male-bodied people coming and requesting this service," Dr. Margaret Baum said. "We performed 142 vasectomies in 2021, already this year we've done close to 200 in 2022, and the year's not out yet."

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Baum noted that patients from across the state have been traveling to the clinic in St. Louis. In May 2022, she began to provide vasectomies at the Springfield Planned Parenthood health center, in an effort to allow more people who were interested to access the procedure. Baum also performs female sterilization procedures, as well.

"We offer both sterilization for those with female bodies – those with uteruses, cervixes and tubes – and those with male bodies – testes and vas deferens," Baum said. "It's just really important that these services are offered without judgement, without stigma, so that people who are informed about the procedure can make a good decision, and decide if it's the right thing for them, their relationship and their family."

Planned Parenthood's upcoming Rolla Health Center will also eventually offer vasectomies.

Alongside Iowa-based physician Dr. Esgar Guarin, who specializes in non-scalpel/no-needle vasectomy techniques, Planned Parenthood will offer 60 free vasectomy procedures to people in St. Louis, Springfield and Joplin.

The vasectomies will be performed in Guarin's mobile clinic as well as in the health centers.

"We want this procedure to be accessible for anyone who is asking for it and is an acceptable surgical candidate," Baum said.

While female sterilization is more common, research indicates that vasectomies are safer and cheaper.

"I think it's really important for people to understand that there's a big difference between female sterilization and a vasectomy, in terms of cost, in terms of risk, in terms of operating time, in terms of where it can be done," Baum said. "A vasectomy is a 15 to 20-minute outpatient procedure done under local anesthetic. You can drive yourself there, you can drive yourself home, and two days off of work and you're good to go. The cost out of pocket is around $800.

"A female sterilization, which is a great procedure, has to be done in a hospital setting, under general anesthesia with entry into the abdominal cavity. (It requires) a couple weeks off work, and, certainly, much higher cost in terms of all the hospital and anesthesia and everything," Baum said. "They're both great procedures, but I think it's really exciting to see so much interest in vasectomies."

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Susan Szuch is the health and public policy reporter for the Springfield News-Leader. Follow her on Twitter @szuchsm. Story idea? Email her at sszuch@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Free vasectomies in Springfield, Joplin for uninsured patients