Recession Contraception

There are a lot of things people feel the need to avoid during tough economic times. Buying unnecessary items of clothing at full price, for instance. Or taking extravagant vacations.

And babies.

The latest "recession is increasing demand for birth control" story is out in the New York Times with news that vasectomies are on the rise. Anecdotally, of course. The latest official figures available are from 2006. But doctors from San Diego to New York are reporting an increase in requests for vasectomies ever since the economy turned south. Some men want to be clipped before their insurance runs out, while others are simply terrified at the expense of a new child.

This news comes on the heels of figures out of the condom industry. Right around Valentine's Day, Nielsen reported that condom sales were up 6 percent on an annual basis during January. This compares to the industry's 2.3 percent growth rate during all of 2008.

Avoiding pregnancy, it seems, is all the rage.

But don't expect the birth rate to fall off a cliff just yet. To be sure, it will likely decrease in 2008 and 2009, but that's mostly because 2007 was such a banner year for babies. The National Center for Health Statistics reported last month that 2007 edged out 1957 as the year with the highest birth rate in the U.S. Officials attributed it to higher rates among teens and unmarried women.

While some economists expect this recession to lead to a lower birth rate, much as the Great Depression did, others believe some women will see an involuntary break from work as a perfect opportunity to get pregnant.

Yes, babies are expensive. But before you get clipped or buy a new plenty-pack of condoms, consider this: If you're an optimist, the economy will turn around before that baby belts out his first scream. If you're a pessimist, it will be better by the time kindergarten starts.

Deborah Siegel recently grappled with this issue in a column on RecessionWire. Her conclusion? "You can't give up all your dreams just because the economy is rotten."

by Megan Barnett