Family Planning Industry In Massachusetts Thriving During Recession

The family planning industry in Massachusetts is flourishing during the economic recession, according to state medical experts, the Boston Herald reports. Planned Parenthood has reported a 77% increase in the state for procedures to insert intrauterine devices, and physicians are seeing higher numbers of vasectomy procedures. In addition, condom sales are increasing.

A recent Gallup survey conducted for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists found that 17% of married women said the economy has affected their plans to have children, and 33% of women who are in a relationship but not married said they are now more concerned with unintended pregnancies compared with the previous year.

Jesse Mermell, vice president of external affairs for the Planned Parenthood League of Massachusetts, said that NuvaRing and long-term IUD use has increased by 77% in the past year. Mermell said, "The universal reaction to that spike has been 'wow.'"

According to Nelson Bennett, director of male sexual medicine at the Lahey Clinic, there was a 30% increase in vasectomies in the first quarter of 2009 compared with the same period in 2008. Emanuel Friedman of MetroWest Urology -- who has performed about 1,500 vasectomies -- said, "People who wanted four children might now stop at two," adding, "Last year I was doing four to six surgeries weekly, now I'm doing six to 10."

Davin Wedel, president of Glob Protection, a Boston-based condom manufacturer, said that condom sales "are up, even in retail, which is rare." His company has seen a 35% increase in online traffic from its flagship brand's Web site. He added that the increase is not only because of couples being more careful. "People are out of work, and sex is a cheap form of entertainment," he said.

According to the Herald, area hospitals have not yet seen a steep drop in the number of newborns, but representatives say it is still too early to forecast how the economy will affect birthrates. August marks the ninth month since the start of the recession (Jordan, Boston Herald, 8/2).


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