March Madness Causes Surprising Increase in Sexual Procedure for Men
NEWNow you can listen to News articles!
For some men, March Madness isn’t just about braces: It’s also the best time for a vasectomy.
Previous research has shown that demand for the procedure tends to increase during the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments, held each spring.
Some surgeons agree that this is a real phenomenon, largely because the constant stream of games offers the perfect activity for men recovering on the couch.
MALE FERTILITY RATES SHIP WHEN DOCTORS REVEAL HEALTH THREATS: ‘SOMETHING VERY WRONG’
A vasectomy is a simple surgical procedure for men that blocks the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm, and serves as a permanent form of contraception.
Recovery usually takes a few days to a week, and doctors recommend rest for 48 hours and light activity soon after.
Previous research has shown that demand for vasectomies tends to increase during the NCAA Division I men’s and women’s college basketball tournaments, held each spring. (iStock)
David Gentile, MD, chief of the urology department at Highland Hospital, recently spoke with the University of Rochester Medical Center about the increase in vasectomies during March Madness.
“It’s a great excuse to watch without interruptions.”
“We tell patients that they should plan to come home and put their feet up after a vasectomy, so scheduling the procedure to catch some games while you recover works well,” he said.
“And it’s a great excuse to watch uninterrupted, since you won’t be able to do physical work around the house while you recover.”
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
Jim Dupree, MD, associate professor of urology at Michigan Medicine, also discussed the trend.
“Major sporting events are a popular time for men to schedule a vasectomy because we advise them to take it easy for two to three days after the procedure,” he said in a Michigan Medicine news release.
A vasectomy is a simple surgical procedure for men that blocks the vas deferens, the tube that carries sperm, and serves as a permanent form of contraception. (iStock)
“For most men, this means sitting on the couch in front of the TV and sporting events give them something to watch while they rest.”
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
Yet another surgeon, Dr. Ali Dabaja, director of male sexual and reproductive medicine at the Vattikuti Institute of Urology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, weighed in on the topic in 2024.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE News APP
“After a vasectomy, we ask men to rest, not lift anything heavy, and return to light tasks during that week. So timing the procedure to watch some games while you recover works well, and is a great excuse to watch March Madness without interruptions,” he told the Urology Care Foundation.
“Historically, during the March Madness period we have seen an increase in vasectomy visits and vasectomies,” he continued. “Other urology practices have reported an increase in vasectomies of between 20% and 40%.”
“After a vasectomy, we ask men to rest, not lift anything heavy, and return to light tasks for that week,” one surgeon said. (iStock)
A 2018 study published in the journal Urology found that March was one of the highest volume months for vasectomy procedures, but the highest spikes actually occurred later in the year, particularly in November and December.
TRY OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
That study had some limitations, primarily because the monthly variation was observational and the data lacked the context of patients’ behaviors and schedules.
Melissa Rudy is a senior health editor and member of the lifestyle team at News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@News.com.