Exclusive: Vasectomies are booming in Australia and many experts believe the rising cost of living could be a factor in younger men going under the knife.

A new study from Adelaide University researchers has revealed the number of vasectomies performed on men aged 18-44 each year has spiked by more than 60 per cent.

About 18,500 vasectomies were performed on men in that age range back in 2016.

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In 2024, the number had surged to more than 29,800.

Researchers also found the average number of vasectomies performed per month has increased by about 45 per cent, though the figure was much higher in some states.

For example, in NSW about 25 vasectomies were performed on men aged 18 to 44 per 100,000 male population per month in April 2016.

In December 2024, that figure had jumped to 39 – an increase of 56 per cent.

In Tasmania, the number of vasectomies were performed on men aged 18 to 44 per 100,000 male population per month rose from 41 in 2016 to 66 in 2024.

That's an increase of 61 per cent.

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Dr Jack Janetzki, lecturer in Pharmacy and Pharmacology at Adelaide University and co-author of the study, suspects the cost-of-living crisis played a role in the spike in vasectomy rates across the country.

"Rising housing costs, cost-of-living pressures and delayed partnership formation could all be associated with decisions to limit or forgo childbearing," he told nine.com.au.

"Vasectomy provides a definitive solution to limiting family size amid these pressures and people may now be making concrete decisions on family size at a greater rate."

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