Comments on: Consenting to Tubal Ligation During Childbirth

By: Lisa

Lisa — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 08:01:33 +0000

I was 17 when I was forced into having tubal ligation. The reports from the procedure are so wrong it’s not funny. It stated that I had been through counselling but I hadn’t. That my then boyfriend had children from a previous marriage, but he hadn’t even been married! He was only 18. My mother signed the paperwork, an appt was made, and it was done. I want so badly to have another child but the cost is too great for the reversal. There should be laws making it illegal to preform tubal ligations on minors!

By: Birdie

Birdie — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 10:04:52 +0000

I don’t think sterilization should even be discussed in the delivery room unless the mom speaks out and specifically asks for it. What the patient should do is decide without the influence of ANYONE else, whether or not she wants her tubes tied. Then she should discuss it with the doc before delivery so they both know what is going on and there is a form already signed for it and everything.

By: Nicole CLC

Nicole CLC — Wed, 04 May 2011 22:22:24 +0000

I think that physicians shouldn’t even ask their female patient if she is interested in surgical sterilization. Maybe it can be one of the initial forms at their first few appointments. That way the physician knows which patients to discuss the options with before the window is too small. (Even though I personally feel that during pregnancy is a bad time, anyway. How many women are miserable while pregnant?) The reason I feel that physician’s shouldn’t even bring it up: If a woman really wants to be permanently sterilized, she will seek out the physician with questions about it. Men do it all the time! You don’t hear of physicians asking their male patients if they need a referral for a Urologist to have a vasectomy during their routine visits. (At least I hope not.) Just because OBGYNs are licensed and trained to perform these surgeries doesn’t mean that they should be automatically assuming just because a woman is pregnant that she will never want to be pregnant again in the future. I will get off my soapbox now. I just get annoyed when others feel they have the right to make a decision about another person’s fertility. My husband and I have four children, he is adamant about not having anymore and I was still undecided, so we compromised that since he was sure and I wasn’t that he should be the one to have the surgery. And he did 2 months after our fourth was born. But, did his Urologist seek him out and ask him? No. He had to ask and give informed consent. Thank you Dr. Berger and Dr. Monteith for giving women another chance at adding to their families.

By: Teri Burris

Teri Burris — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 17:08:59 +0000

Wow, and here I thought I was the only one with an ex husband who decided for me that I was done having kids. I can’t believe that so many women out there shared my experience. I never wanted my tubes tied. I saw the agony that my mom went through when she wanted to have children with her fiancee, and couldn’t because she had her tubes tied at 22 after my little brother was born. Something, my husband at the time, and I had discussed in depth. He knew it wasn’t an option for me, and yet he went behind my back to do it anyway. I was devastated and crushed. It is a decision that should be made well before labor and delivery. Thankfully Dr. Monteith was able to correct this injustice on 12 January 2011. I am just hoping for that little positive sign now. Thank you for sharing.

By: Melissa Snudden

Melissa Snudden — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 05:20:29 +0000

I had a third child whom I was a surrogate for. I hemorrhaged at 35 weeks to the point that the doctor took me to the OR for an emergency hysterectomy. The thing is that I never had the hysterectomy. They were able to stop the bleeding but told my husband at the time that if I got pregnant again that I could die. He signed the consent for me to have a tubal. I didn’t know about it until I had my first period after the baby. I thought I had a hysterectomy. I was never told about it until I talked to the doctor. Now I am with a man that I love dearly and can’t have children with him. A spouse or parent should not be allowed to give informed consent for tubal ligation as it is not life threatening.

By: just me

just me — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:27:37 +0000

When my last daughter was born and I was out of it on drugs, I was basically harassed into a Tuble Ligation not an hour after having my daughter in 2003. I refused several times saying no, I didn’t want it and couldn’t pay for it. The next thing I knew I woke up on the operating table!! Now, I may very well be pregnant. I have always been really in tune with my body. I always knew when I was pregnant. I have three wonderful daughters, so I know what I am feeling. But now after reading about tuble pregnancies and all I am worried about the possibilities and about a tuble pregnancy. To anyone giving birth and your doctor or nurse pushing you into it, tell them go away! In my case, nothing was explained, not the risks – nothing. This is not something any woman should decide at the time of birth or just after, and never when you have been given drugs to help with the pain of birth. To all those who are having their tuble undone, so to speak, I wish you all the best, and hope you all get your wishes. I wasn’t a young kid, I wasn’t unstable, and there was no reason for doing the ligation other then they decided they want to do it. I am soon to be 40 and scared as heck.

By: DonnaB

DonnaB — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 21:41:29 +0000

Hi Angella,
I would be happy to discuss your situation and symptoms and see if you are a good candidate for tubal reversal surgery. Please contact me at 919-968-4656.
Donna, RN

By: Angella

Angella — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 17:43:14 +0000

I have three beautiful children of whom I very happy.A tubal ligation was discussed with me during labor but I was not informed of the risk and side effects. I do not even know the name of the doctor who performed this procedure on me or how it was done. I believe the doctor did it without my consent. I have been having all kinds of problems. My left ovary was removed because of constant pelvic pain. Now I only have one ovary left, missed periods, mood swings, and pelvic pain has began on my right side. I would like to have this procedure reversed, because I did not have all these problems before. I need your advise and help. please reply to Angella_Bromfield@bloomfiel.edu

By: Dr. Berger

Dr. Berger — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 00:24:42 +0000

Carmen – You could request a copy of your operative report if you had a c-section to see if a tubal ligation was performed. Otherwise, you could have a hysterosalpingogram (HSG) to determine if your fallopian tubes are open or blocked.

By: Carmen Suggs

Carmen Suggs — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 16:28:06 +0000

In Oct. 2000, I gave birth to a healthy baby boy. I currently have 3 children and have had 5 pregnancy. However after my 3rd child I have not been able to conceive. He will be 8 next month. I honestly believe that the Dr. performed an unauthorized tubal ligation. I have no way of proving it, but I have not been able to get pregnant since. Is there any test that can be done to reverse this problem. I would love to have another child before I’m 40. I am a US Navy veteran who loves her country. The VA does not provide fertility treatment at this time. Please help.

By: I. Lee

I. Lee — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 22:43:32 +0000

The same thing happened to me. Right after I gave birth to my son, my military doctor asked me if I wanted to get my tubes tied. We had never discussed this before. I had just had my son and had had an epidural I didn’t know what to answer, but my doctor stood there waiting for a response. I told him to ask my husband. Still to this day, I don’t know what happened because we later got divorced and are not in good terms now. I’ve been married for the past six years to a man whose never had children and really wants a child. His parents have no grandchildren. We’ve tried unsuccessfully to get pregnant. Unfortunately, our health insurance does not cover fertility treatments.

By: Pamela Mills CRNA

Pamela Mills CRNA — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 15:00:22 +0000

We hear this over and over again and it is so sad. When our patients come here for tubal ligation reversal, they speak with our Tubal Reversal nurse, our nurse anesthetist or anesthesiologist and Dr Berger before signing their consent forms. We cover every aspect of their care, including the potential risks and complications. We truly want our patients to be informed, to ask the appropriate questions and to be able make an informed decision under no duress. Thank you Dr Berger for touching on this very important topic.

Pam Mills, CRNA

By: Sally Muncy RN

Sally Muncy RN — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:41:11 +0000

I totally agree with all of the previous comments. I am especially saddened when one of our patients states that she forced into tubal ligation by her parents because she was very young and already had an unplanned pregnancy. Situations change and teenagers grow up to be responsible adults. There is no reason for them to be punished forever because of past mistakes. I am so glad that Dr. Berger is able to restore fertility and allow these women to lead a fulfilling adult life.

By: Myrna White

Myrna White — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 13:41:06 +0000

I don’t think it’s right for any physician to ask a woman right after giving birth if they want a tubal ligation. The woman first of all would not have a clear head to make a decision like that. I think all women before and after child birth should be educated on what a tubal ligation really is and the side effects it could cause. It’s a blessing to have Dr. Berger who is highly educated on tubal ligation reversals – he can and has helped women correct a decision they have come to regret.

By: Sarah Meachem RN

Sarah Meachem RN — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 01:07:04 +0000

I think a woman should be given a chance to really think about having a tubal ligation and not be forced into a decision right after giving birth. That is not the time to make a major life-changing decision! Women need to be made aware of the impact that a tubal ligation will have on their lives. I’m so glad Dr. Berger is able to help women of all ages reverse their tubal ligations and move on the a new chapter in their lives!

By: Julia Smith RN

Julia Smith RN — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:32:18 +0000

Excellent information and recommendations. A doctor should not expect a patient – who may have been medicated – to give informed consent. As Dr. Berger mentioned, however, each person has the responsibility to ask questions and make her wishes known to the doctor. Although many women are intimidated by the doctor, it is appropriate to ask questions and expect answers at a time when you can be relaxed, unmedicated, and have time for follow-up questions and responses — well ahead of the delivery date.

By: Rhonda Brown RN

Rhonda Brown RN — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 21:07:45 +0000

It always saddens me when I hear that a woman was “talked into having her tubes tied. ” I feel that the decision to take the step of having a tubal ligation should be one that a person has time to think about. It is such a big step and should ultimately be the woman’s choice. I also think that a woman should be given the time and complete information before signing the consents; after all, that is where “informed consent” is. I am very thankful to Dr. Berger’s dedication not only to the tubal reversal procedure but also to his patients. All of our patients are given information up front – even before they walk through our doors. This gives them a chance to have the information on hand and to be able to ask any questions that they have.

By: Jennifer Okun RN

Jennifer Okun RN — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 20:19:28 +0000

I often hear from patients that they had the ligation because their doctor or spouse talked them into it. It is really unfortunate that other people seem to have no problem making such an important decision for another person! I think it should be recommended that women wait at least 6 months after the birth of child to decide if they would like a tubal ligation. Thank goodness for Dr. Berger! He gives women a second chance to have children.

By: Ericka Pamplin

Ericka Pamplin — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 19:55:48 +0000

I agree with Dr. Berger’s comment. The patient has a responsibility to ask questions. Before coming to work for Dr. Berger, I had no clue that there were multiple methods of “tying the tubes”. Just goes to show that one has to do their homework!