Do Menstrual Problems Increase After Tubal Ligation?
Tubal ligation is the most common method of contraception used in the United States. It is considered safe and highly effective. However, since the early 1950s, the existence of a “post-tubal ligation syndrome” has been debated. The hallmark of this syndrome is an increased risk of menstrual abnormalities. Moreover, results from one study indicated that women who have this surgery were four to five times more likely to have a subsequent hysterectomy; results from a second study showed that 41 percent of the women who underwent hysterectomy had a previous tubal sterilization. To make further determinations about this issue, Peterson and colleagues reported data from the U.S. Collaborative Review of Sterilization, a large prospective study evaluating the long-term safety and effectiveness of tubal ligation. The U.S. Collaborative Review was started in 1978 and included women between 18 and 44 years of age who were undergoing tubal sterilization at one of several institutions throughout t
