Chicago Planned Parenthood offering vasectomies

A Chicago Planned Parenthood clinic has begun offering vasectomies for men who’ve decided they’ve completed their families or don’t want to father children.

The nonprofit family planning organization has launched the service at its Near North Health Center.

Kai Tao, the center’s vice president of clinical operations, says the procedure is safe and practically painless. He says there’s a short recovery time and most men return to work the next day.

Planned Parenthood offers vasectomies at many locations across the United States. The organization says the cost of a vasectomy ranges from $350 to $1,000, including the follow-up sperm count. Many private insurance companies cover vasectomies.