As a means of contraception, tubal ligation surgery has been used on millions of women in just the U.S. itself over the years. When researching this method, one can't help but come upon stories about Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome. Women who suffer from this after effect of the surgery relate awful examples of the symptoms that they suffer. A basic search on the web on the topic will lead you to horrible story after horrible story.

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.

As if the above wasn't enough for these ladies to suffer through, they have to suffer further ignominy from their doctors and medical staff. Most doctors do not believe ptls even exist. One such doctor calls it a "medical myth" in an interview. So these women suffering these symptoms will be met with derision and suggestions of seek counseling and use anti-depressants. At the very best, they will be told to just learn to live with it.

One possible treatment these poor women will receive is to be put back onto birth control pills. Considering they went through the tubal ligation surgery instead of using birth control pills, they don't seem to be coming out ahead. But there are some doctors, and given how many times this seems to be the treatment given most doctors, are of the opinion that what these women are suffering is due to going off birth control pills or to age. Sometimes the women are told they will just need to get a total hysterectomy. Has anyone wondered what that implies?

Our doctor quoted above, the "medical myth", says women should be removed from birth control pills several months in advance of the actual tubal ligation surgery. This will given them a chance to see what their periods and pms are really like without the hormones of the birth control pills. If the problems stem from age, I suppose you are just going to have "to learn to live with it." But this advice does not seem to be pertinent to the women who were pregnant and get the tubal done at delivery or shortly thereafter. Nor does the age cause seem to relate to women who are in their 20's.

Another way to help with these effects and syndromes would be a better notification of potential complications before the surgery. Even the government's FDA website only lists the following as possible "rare" complications from the surgery: infection, ectopic pregnancy, hemorrhage and problems related to the use of general anesthesia. No mention of the effects that so many women suffer from PTLS. Maybe a more informative consent form would stop some women from going through with the surgery. At least they would be better informed with a consent form that included PTLS which is what the "Coalition for Post-Tubal Women" is trying to accomplish.

However, for women who have already undergone tubal surgery, there has to be other action taken. These can include, as mentioned above, going onto birth control pills, having a hysterectomy or having a tubal ligation reversal surgery performed. By getting a tubal reversal ptls symptoms seem to be reduced for about 90% of patients. That's the results of a study Dr. Berger of the Chapel Hill Tubal Reversal Center cites at http://press.tubal-reversal.net/2008/post-tubal-ligation-syndrome.html

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.