Understanding Vasectomy Services’ Models of Care, Training, and Financing Among Title X Family Planning Providers

Background and Objective: Recent evidence suggests an increased demand for vasectomies following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization overturning Roe v. Wade . Limited published information on vasectomies provided by publicly funded agencies exists. This study seeks to understand and document vasectomy services in Title X Family Planning health centers, including models of care, provider training, and financial strategies. Methods: We held qualitative interviews with 22 Title X organizations. Through an iterative, thematic analysis, our research team coded the data to produce findings illustrating the landscape of vasectomy service provision in Title X Family Planning health centers. Results: This qualitative research study indicated 3 central components of vasectomy care in publicly funded Title X clinics: models of care, finance models, and provider training. Individual approaches varied considerably depending on organization size, funding, provider types, and policy climate. Conclusions: This study confirms that a host of barriers exist to providing vasectomy services in publicly funded or “safety net” clinics, including: (1) Limited opportunities for provider training, (2) federal and state 30-day waiting periods for informed consent, and (3) low reimbursement rates. The study informs options for addressing these barriers in publicly funded settings.