Vasectomy workforce and utilization in the United States, 2019

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo examine the workforce that provides vasectomies in the United States using national-level medical claims data (IQVIA Dx, 2019).MethodsWe combined IQVIA Dx 2019 data on medical claims with information on clinician characteristics and clinician type from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) and the American Medical Association (AMA) Masterfile. We assessed state-level trends in vasectomy provision. We used multivariate regressions to evaluate the association between clinician characteristics and two outcomes: providing at least one vasectomy and total volume of vasectomies in 2019.ResultsWe found total of 147,618 vasectomies performed by 7,592 clinicians in the IQVIA Dx 2019 data. About 76% clinicians were urologists, 16% family medicine specialists, and about 8% were general surgeons. Urologists performed about 91% of all vasectomies. Overall, about 92% of clinicians were located in urban areas. Multivariate regression analysis showed that clinicians that were female (Odds Ratio (OR) 0.12, 95% Confidence Interval (95% CI) (0.09 - 0.15)), graduated from osteopathic schools (OR 0.77, 95% CI (0.60 - 0.98)) had lower odds of providing vasectomies.ConclusionsClinicians from multiple specialties performed vasectomies in the U.S. Most often, this procedure was performed by male urologists practicing in urban areas. Wide state-level variations exist in vasectomy provision. Clinicians’ gender, location and type of medical degree received were associated with their vasectomy provision.