As the recession drags on and deepens, people everywhere are looking for ways to save and cut back wherever they can: the grocery bill, alternate transportation, family planning.
Massive layoffs all around the country have infused uncertainty into the future in all areas. People are asking themselves: ‘Should we have a(nother) baby?” “Can we afford it?” Most are answering “no, we can’t”. For many, a more permanent birth control has become a viable option.

In Ohio, the Cleveland Clinic has seen a 50 percent increase in vasectomies since last October, when the economic crisis exploded.

Jones was told by patients that they were getting vasectomies because they were losing their jobs and health insurance, or concerned about being out of work soon….They realize they don’t have the financial security long-term with what’s going on.

It’s not just men having this ‘permanent’ birth control, women are having procedures done too-tubal litigation’s as well as abortions.

Planned Parenthood of Illinois clinics performed an all-time high number of abortions in January, many of them motivated by the women’s economic worries, said CEO Steve Trombley

Experts say it’s too early to tell if this will negatively impact the national birth rate, though note that during the Depression and previous times of economic downturns, the birthrate “did go down”.