Tubal ligation: Difference between revisions

[[File:Sterilizace ženy.jpg|thumb|A diagram of some methods of tubal ligation.]]

Anyone seeking sterilization will encounter sexist discrimination. Doctors, local laws, and health insurance companies put many more obstacles in the way of sterilization for people who they perceive as female, because of a widespread misconception that everyone who was born with a uterus will want to get pregnant someday. By comparison, doctors are much more willing and cooperative about giving the equivalent sterilization procedure to people who have testicles (a [[vasectomy]]). A doctor will only let a patient sign the consent forms for tubal ligation in the first place if the doctor is satisfied with how the patient answers a long series of intentionally offensive questions. Doctors intentionally try to lead people into giving the "wrong" answers, and then refuse to let the patient sign the consent forms. A survey found that male and female doctors are equally reluctant to let a "young" person (in their 20s or 30s) get a tubal ligation. Looking too youthful or whimsical can be enough for the doctor to decide you don't look like you can consider this decision, so dress maturely for this appointment.<ref name="misa">Misa, “How to get your tubes tied, even if you’re only 21.” ''Misa's Place'' (blog). Posted September 21, 2006. Accessed July 1, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130701000000*/http://misasplace.blogspot.com/2006/09/how-to-get-your-tubes-tied-even-if.html</ref> See [[sterilization]] for more details on what the doctor wants to hear. There is also racist discrimination involved: doctors make sterilization relatively easy to get for people of color, or even push it on people of color who don't want it, but make sterilization almost impossible to get for people who are white. The motivation behind this racist discrimination is eugenics. After signing these consent forms, the patient may be required to wait a certain number of days before being allowed to have surgery. The wait is to give the patient time to make sure it's what they really want. This is also sexist discrimination, because people seeking a [[vasectomy]] are not forced to wait.<ref name="planned parenthood" /><ref name="jezebel">Erin Gloria Ryan, “Getting your tubes tied is a giant pain in the ass.” Published July 9, 2012. ''Jezebel'' (magazine). http://jezebel.com/5924414/getting-your-tubes-tied-is-a-giant-pain-in-the-ass</ref><ref name="lowder">J. Lowder, “Sterilize me, please.” ''Slate'' (magazine). Posted July 9, 2012. Accessed May 4, 2012. http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2012/07/getting_your_tubes_tied_why_do_young_women_have_a_hard_time_getting_sterilized_.3.html</ref> Even after submitting the consent forms, the doctors usually continue to create obstacles, such as deciding that the consent forms need to be redone because the doctor didn't print their name below their signature, or canceling the surgery at the last minute because the patient didn't call to confirm that they still wanted it. Our wiki's article about [[sterilization]] tells more about how to navigate this form of sexist discrimination, find doctors who are willing to do it, and talk to them about it. As of this writing, some up-to-date resources for finding doctors who are willing to do a tubal ligation by the informed consent model include [https://np.reddit.com/r/childfree/wiki/doctors The Childfree Friendly Doctors List],<ref>"The Childfree Friendly Doctors List." ''Childfree'' (subreddit wiki). Updated May 3, 2022. Accessed May 4, 2022. https://np.reddit.com/r/childfree/wiki/doctors</ref> and [https://www.facebook.com/groups/906558446831913 Facebook's Childfree and Sterile/Seeking Sterilization group].<ref>''Childfree and Sterile/Seeking Sterilization'' (Facebook group). Created March 3, 2021. Updated May 4, 2022. Accessed May 4, 2022. https://www.facebook.com/groups/906558446831913</ref>

A tubal ligation is done by a gynecologist, family medicine doctor, or general surgeon in a medical office, hospital, or clinic.<ref name="planned parenthood" /> Tubal ligation is done in one stage. Although many sources refer to it being done under local or regional anesthesia,<ref>Hatasaka HH, Sharp HT, Dowling DD, Teahon K, Peterson CM. "Laparoscopic tubal ligation in a minimally invasive surgical unit under local anesthesia compared to a conventional operating room approach under general anesthesia." ''Journal of Laparoendoscopic & Advanced Surgical Techniques.'' 1997 Oct;7(5):295-9. doi: 10.1089/lap.1997.7.295. PMID: 9453874.</ref> typically it is done under general anesthesia. The patient goes home the same day.