You have probably heard it before: Vasectomies spike during March Madness, because what better time for a basketball fan to chill on the couch with an ice pack.
Is this actually true, though? The Herald reached out to Boston-area urologists, with one doctor reporting that he has performed “a lot” of vasectomy procedures this week before the NCAA tournament starts with 12 hours of college basketball a day.
A normal week for Boston-area urologist Stephen Lazarou’s practice is 20 to 30 vasectomies, while the week of March Madness is more than that, he said.
“We’ve been seeing a lot of vasectomies as of late,” Lazarou told the Herald on Wednesday, adding, “It’s a popular time now.”
Urologists tell patients after a vasectomy to take it easy, advising them to relax on the couch. Depending on the type of vasectomy procedure, the patient will be told to apply an ice pack for the first few days.
Watching the basketball tournament while recovering at home is a good way to keep the patient’s mind off the minor discomfort, Lazarou said.
“Men are highly motivated this time of year,” he added of the procedures ahead of the college basketball tournament. “It helps keep their minds occupied.”
March is the most popular month to schedule a vasectomy, according to the Men’s Health Center page for Brigham and Women’s Faulkner Hospital.
“Why? That’s because the recovery for this brief outpatient procedure requires rest on the couch for a couple of days,” the Men’s Health Center adds. “A perfect time to watch the national college basketball tournament.”
A patient this week told urologist Sarah Miller that they were scheduling a vasectomy around March Madness as an excuse for taking off work and watching the basketball games.
“It’s certainly true that it’s nice to have something enjoyable to do after,” said Miller, of Northeast Vasectomy and Family Planning.
While some practices might have vasectomy promotions around March…
Read the full article here
