Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome - How to Relieve the Pain

Tubal ligation has been used by millions of women in the U.S. alone as a means of preventing more conceptions. One possible after affect is called Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome which causes the women who suffer it some quite horrible experiences. These experiences can be read on the web by just doing a search on the subject.

For those women who suffer from Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome, also called PTLS, there is a long list of possible symptoms they can have. Upon researching this topic, one can find a popular list (seen on several websites) of 35 possible symptoms. Within the personal stories, most women seem to suffer from terrible mood swings, longer and/or heavier bleeding during periods, weight gain or inability to lose weight, awful PMS, problems sleeping, low to no sex drive, migraines and very severe, even crippling, abdominal pain. Cramps is too wimpy a word for what these women report.

These symptoms are bad enough for the women and their families suffering through them. But this is not all they face. In trying to find out what is wrong with them, they endure many tests from doctors leading to various different diagnoses even for the same woman from the different specialist she may visit. When none of their “fixes” bring any relief, the women have to face being told either to learn to live with it or be prescribed antidepressants as the symptoms are all in their heads. We even have one doctor calling ptls a “medical myth” on MedicineNet so, of course, these women are not actually suffering from anything “real”.

The other treatment options these women suffering ptls will most often hear appears to be going on birth control pills or to have a hysterectomy. Some doctors think that the reason for the problems is that after the tubal ligation the women are no longer taking birth control pills or that they have just gotten older. So the best way to fix it is put them back onto birth control pills or just get a hysterectomy.

One doctor is quoted as saying that women should be removed from birth control pills well in advance of the tubal ligation surgery in order to allow their bodies to return to norm. The thinking is that this would let the ladies know what their condition, related to PMS and menses, prior to having the surgery. Who knows what the answer is for the “age related” problems? Learn to live with it? But these don’t address the ladies who have the tubal done at the birth of the last child they wanted. And the age related cause does not address the young women in their 20’s or, in my opinion, the ones in their early 30’s who are having problems with ptls either.

Informing women about to undergo the tube tying surgery would be one thing that should be done. Most have no idea that ptls is even a possible complication to the surgery. Mostly they are told that there is a chance for an infection, hemorrhage or a problem related to the use of general anesthesia as you would have in any surgery. What is added for this particular surgery is the additional complication of an ectopic pregnancy. This information is from the FDA’s own website. The “Coalition for Post-Tubal Women” is trying to accomplish a change in the consent form. Better counseling about this possibility would be good as well but since many, dare I say most, doctors believe this to be a mythical syndrome, who knows if it will ever happen. At least let them know so they can do their own research and make their own decisions if this is something they want to risk.

Even if a better consent form and counseling were available, it still won’t help those who have had the surgery and are now suffering the effects of post tubal ligation syndrome. You could try the options talked about above like birth control pills or a hysterectomy. Or you could try a tubal ligation reversal surgery. In a study conducted by Dr. Berger of Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center on the women who have come to him and complained of having the symptoms of ptls, 90% saw a reduction in their symptoms. You can read the stories yourself at http://forums.tubal-reversal.net/ where the ladies are happy to help as well as nurses who provide information.

Going to the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal forum will lead you to threads that address the issue of ptls. Women come asking if a tubal ligation reversal will really help them. Those who respond answer in the affirmative talking about all their previous symptoms and how they now have relief or improvement. An added side benefit is the possibility of now having another child though some say they don’t even care about that since the relief from post tubal ligation syndrome is so great.

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