Tax Lawyer's Blog

Everyone knows babies can be expensive. 

And given our current economic woes this is certainly not the best time to bring a newborn into the world.

But still, people do crazy things in crazy times.

The New York Times money section reports that the number of vasectomies have increased since the recession began in December 2007:

Urologists and clinics have noticed an uptick in recent months in the number of men requesting vasectomies.

In Southern California, Planned Parenthood says requests for vasectomies were up 30 percent in the first quarter for its clinics in San Diego and Riverside Counties. “The recession has created a new level of urgency among our clients,” said Vince Hall, a spokesman. “We used to have a three- to six-week waiting period. Now men have to wait two-and-a-half months to get an appointment.”

As this recession continues, it is understandable that more people might hesitate to expand their families. A baby born in 2006 — the latest year for which data are available — will cost middle-income parents $260,000 by the time the child reaches 17, according to the Agriculture Department. And that doesn’t include college. 

Come on guys, let’s not lose our heads.

Choosing a permanent solution (vasectomy) to handle a temporary problem (financial woes) makes no sense.

Operating under my long held policy not to allow anyone wielding a sharp knife to get within 20 feet of my nether regions, I have the following suggestion:

Instead of having your privates snipped invest in enough condoms to get you through the first quarter of 2010, when everyone seems to agree the economy will turn?

And note, even though a vasectomy can sometimes be reversed, many doctors warn their patients against having them in the first place:

The possibility that a man might change his mind, in fact, is the reason some doctors who perform vasectomies say men should think twice before having one. Reversing the procedure is a complicated, five-hour task, can cost thousands of dollars and is rarely covered by insurance.

And, oh, yes: About half the time it does not work.

No word from the Times on whether the incidence of abortion has also increased. 

The Tax Implications:

You can deduct the cost of a vasectomy only if it together with all of your other non-insurance reimbursed medical expenses exceeds 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income.

The cost of having a vasectomy reversed is not deductible.

Now if you’ll excuse me I have to get some smelling salts.

I’m feeling a little woozy.

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