What is a tubal ligation?

It is the surgical procedure known as sterilisation in which the fallopian tubes are cut and tied.

There are several techniques of tubal ligation. The fallopian tubes may be cut & tied, pinched closed by the use of plastic rings or clips, or severed using laser treatment which ‘burns’ tube endings.

A tubal ligation prevents fertility because the egg released from your ovaries during ovulation cannot travel down the fallopian tubes be fertilised by the man’s sperm.

Will a tubal ligation affect my hormones?

Usually “yes”, it’s just a matter of when. We have spoken with a number of women who reported a variety of problems subsequent to a tubal ligation. Irregular, heavy menstrual bleeding, for example, that has, on occasions, resulted in a hysterectomy. These women reported increased period pain, longer periods, pain during intercourse, severe PMS. Even endometriosis has been known to occur after surgical sterilisation. These women post tubal ligation often go into early menopause, or experience perimenopausal problems such as hot flushes, sleep disturbances, anxiety attacks and all the estrogen dominant symptoms that are commonly listed.

Some common characteristics to consider. Overall, these women reported hormone imbalance 6-7 years after their tubal ligation. However, occasionally, a woman reported insidious side-effects virtually the day after she had surgery.

We have held the hands of women who, soon after their tubal ligation surgery, abruptly entered menopause. The reason why women suffer hormonal imbalances is unclear. Perhaps blood supply to the ovaries has been interfered with, or severed, which compromised the performance of the ovaries. Perhaps the messages from the brain to the ovaries is more complex than is understood. The mind-body correlation cannot be understated here.

Some women do escape significant hormonal problems while others experience extreme perimenopausal or menopausal symptoms. The degree of hormonal problems is dependent upon the damage to the ovarian blood supply and the state of the woman?s health in general. The production of progesterone by the ovaries is likely to be compromised. Additionally, estrogen may also be compromised as it needs a greater supply of oxygen for the many steps necessary in its synthesis by the ovary. Progesterone output, on the other hand, may be dramatically reduced even though you continue to ovulate.

In other words, the quantity and quality of progesterone is not what it once was, and a ratio imbalance between these two hormone results. You may be short on both hormones, but there is a greater likelihood that your progesterone levels will be lower than that of estrogen, accounting for estrogen dominant symptoms that arise subsequent to a tubal ligation.

After a tubal ligation, women often enter the circuit of ‘doctor hopping’ in search of answers for their failing health.

They cannot put their finger on any particular cause, and are subsequently fobbed off with demeaning comments like, ?That?s just the way it is?, ?You?re getting older?, ?Just get an interest?, ?It?s all in your head?, ?Just learn to live with it?. Round and round in circles they go.

These poor women - the casualties of tubal ligations - suffer in silence and isolation because they ought to be healthy. They look healthy enough, or rather tests proved unremarkable. Yet, incredibly, they’re all experiencing severe menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms, minus any semblance of sympathy or recognition by the medical fraternity. Often they are told they are too young for menopause and that it can?t possibly be linked.

So, what are these poor women to think? That they are hypochondriacs? It?s all a state of their confused mind? Undiagnosed and untreated for years on end, they arrive at our doorstep very angry and disillusioned. Often casualties of medical misrepresentation or medical neglect because the doctors simply failed to recognise the connection between tubal ligation and the presentation of gynaecological and psychological problems that, in some case, do arise as a result of surgery.

Ironically, women who opt for a tubal ligation, believing it to be an easy form of sterilisation, often end up with a hysterectomy which really negates the reason why they chose a tubal ligation in the first place. Because it’s touted as a relatively risk-free, permanent form of contraception. Many women feel very angered, ripped off and downright annoyed when they make the connection between their health problems and that particular surgery. The resultant complications to their health and emotional wellbeing is understated.

These women claim, time and time again that, had they been given more information, they certainly would not have journeyed down the path of a tubal ligation. They also feel that had they known how it was going to affect their hormonal profile and in many cases libido, then perhaps they would have looked at other forms of contraception. Most women agree they would have suggested their husbands or partner undergo a vasectomy rather than put up with the havoc hormone imbalance is now having on their wellbeing and their marriage/relationship.

If I reverse my tubal ligation, will my symptoms go away?

No, unfortunately not. Sterilisation by tubal ligation is as good as permanent. The surgical
interruption to the blood supply that damages the ovaries is irreversible. Even if surgeons could microscopically re-establish the blood flow to this area, it is not going to reverse the situation. Your symptoms will not disappear without addressing the resultant hormone imbalance.

Does tubal ligation work for any particular woman?

Based on observation, women who have a history of heavy bleeding or fibroids, even endometriosis, PMS and nasty post natal depression should take their existing hormone imbalance into consideration when considering a tubal ligation. Furthermore, we?ve observed women with a history of heavy periods discovered that their tubal ligation often increased their problems and a hysterectomy was necessary to treat, such a severe haemorrhaging.

Tubal ligations do not sort out hormonal problems. It is a procedure performed to prevent pregnancy, and provides a permanent form of contraception.

Any women that has a history of hormone imbalance and associated gynaecological problems should consider alternative options for contraception such as suggesting her partner undergo a vasectomy instead. This will not render him impotent or affect his libido (as a tubal ligation may effect a woman), or his ability to ejaculate.