Re: OPINION REGARDING TUBAL LIGATION
From: Cheryl (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sat, 28 Aug 1999 20:25:41 -0500 (CDT)
Jeannie-
Here is a reply that one of the members of our post-tubal mailing list
had as to your opinion. I must say that I agree with her. I think it
is worth posting here. I do not intend to start anything Barbara. Don't
worry. Just feel that this is worth you all reading........
Cheryl :o)
PS- I hope you choose to post this one Barbara, not to delete it as you
did one of another member of our list. You know who I mean and what
post I am referring to. :o)
*****************
I have a few things to say regarding that little "conversation":
1) I do not regret that I cannot have more children, I regret that I
made a decision that has subsequently caused my body to deteriorate.
2) I do understand and did understand at the time of my tubal that
this is permanent. No one is arguing that it is a temporary form of
b/c. We are simply trying to find a way to feel better.
3) If anyone wonders how many women actually have PTS, why are you
wondering that? Do you wonder how many women *actually* have
post-partum depression? What difference does it make if it is one
woman or 3,000 women. You must believe us when we say, "This is
happening to our bodies."
4) If PTS was not PTS but instead just after-effects of having a baby,
why didn't I experience them after the birth of my first son? Also, if
it is the after-effects of having a baby, why don't more women who have
babies w/o the tubal complain of these symptoms?
5) YES I requested to be infertile; I DID NOT request to be unhealthy.
6) And YES I did understand that this is permanent. There has been
metion of doing IVF. Why would someone have a tubal, experience PTS,
and then suddenly go have IVF????? We had our tubals so WE WOULDN'T
HAVE ANYMORE CHILDREN. Doing IVF treatments would totally defeat the
whole purpose of having the tubal in the first place. We are not here
to say that we want more children. We are here to say that we want to
feel better.
7) Finally, I am not blaming anyone. I am not blaming my dr, my
surgeon, my midwife, my nurses, YOU, my husband, NO ONE! I am sad
because something that has been perceived to be a simple operation to
prevent pregnancy is more than we all previously thought. Smoking was
never linked to cancer UNTIL someone stood up and finally it was
proven. One day this will come to light in the general public.
Unfortunately, it will be too late for us. Maybe we can just inform
our daughters, nieces, cousins, and friends and prevent them from
possibly making the same mistake.
O.K. I'm done now.
Melissa
***********************************************
At Mon, 23 Aug 1999, jeannie wrote:
>
>This is an opinion regarding the frequent posts to the Women's Health
>forum on the subject of tubal ligation. Again, this is strictly my
>opinion and my observations of the posts and also to the private emails
>that I have recieved to my address.
>
>I keep reading in this forum about "post tubal ligation syndrome"
>Whereby, women are complaining of changes in menstrual cycles, heavy
>bleeding, cramping, abdominal pain, depression, hormonal inbalances,
>etc. etc. etc.
>
>I have noticed in several of these posts women expressing sadness and
>regret for having had their tubes tied. I think that the regret is a
>big issue in the whole "syndrome". I do not negate the fact that the
>women may have the other symptoms, but I have to wonder if the tubal
>ligation was the precipitating factor to all the physical problems they
>are reporting.
>
>I have mentioned in some of my posts to the Women's Health site that I
>had a tubal ligation over 5 years ago and have recieved several private
>emails from individuals wanting to know if I experienced "the syndrome".
>The answer is no. I have not had any of the symptoms earlier stated. I
>have also responded to some of the private emails and clarified how the
>female reproductive system works. There are individuals out there that
>have been told that because of tubal ligations their reproductive organs
>have been deprived of blood supply, thus causing them to be hormonally
>inbalanced. This is not true. The fallopian tubes are not blood
>vessels nor or they responsible for the production and release of
>hormones. Whoever has told you gals this is terribly, terribly
>misinformed.
>There are individuals out there that feel that the whole tubal ligation
>issue is a major conspiracy (to what? I don't know) and that health care
>providers (i.e. doctors, nurses, etc.) have been hiding deep dark
>secrets about the effects of tubal ligation.
>Well, this health care worker (me), knows only one fact about tubal
>ligation. It is a permenant method of birth control. If you have your
>tubes tied you're infertile. Another fact that I know is, that if a
>women requests that her tubes be tied it is assumed by the doctor/nurse
>etc. that the women and her partner have thought about it prior to
>making the request and understand fully that it is permenant.
>I would be interested in knowing how many women that have described the
>physical changes post tubal ligation also felt some regret about ending
>their reproductive stage of life.
>Also, I would be interested in knowing how many of the women who had
>their tubes tied and have experienced physical changes had their tubes
>tied immediately after having a baby. It is a well known fact (no
>secret) that women's periods and menstrual cycles change after
>childbirth.
>
>It is my opinion, that these symptoms are incidental to the tubal
>ligation procedure. A coincidence. The regret, I think, is the larger
>issue. To the women out there that are considering having a tubal
>ligation, be sure that you fully comprehend that it is permenant and
>that in requesting to have it done, you are requesting to be infertile.
>For the women that have had the procedure done, you signed a surgical
>consent form stating that you understood that the procedure was
>permenant.
>
>I had my tubes tied at the age of 29. I had never been pregnant and
>knew that I did not want to have a child of my own. I am the carrier of
>a genetic trait that causes major birth defects. I did know, however,
>that I wanted to be a mom. Last year, I gave birth to a beautiful,
>healthy baby boy, through In Vitro Fertilization using donor eggs. I
>have never regretted my decision. My point in telling you this is, for
>the women out there who feel that they made a mistake, and want to have
>more children, there are options. They are expensive options, but none
>the less, they are available.
>
>All of us are responsible for our health care decisions. Stop blaming
>the doctors, nurses and the whole healthcare field for decisions that
>you as individual made.
>
>Respectfully,
>J.C., R.N.
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