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Dramatic Increase in Women Seeking Sterilization After Roe v. Wade

Dramatic Increase in Women Seeking Sterilization After Roe v. Wade

More and more women are considering sterilization surgery following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. 

The June 24th ruling – which was exposed by a leak in May – revoked the constitutional right to abortion granted to women in 1973 and sent the issue into the hands of state lawmakers. 

Within a week, Google searches for female sterilization, tubes tied surgery, fallopian tube removal, tubal ligation, and salpingectomy had surged. Doctors also reported an increase in the number of men seeking vasectomies.

Abortion bans are in place in eight states and are in the works in four states.

Five states passed abortion bans that were blocked by courts and three states allow abortion up to six weeks. 

Dr. Michelle Muldrow, an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) in San Antonio, TX, says the number of women coming into her office to discuss sterilization is like nothing she has ever seen. “I’ve had more consultations for sterilization in volume per patient load than I’ve ever had in my career,” said Muldrow, whose name appears on a list of doctors willing to conduct sterilization surgery on patients as young as 21. “Never before have I seen so many women in such a panic or state of anxiety about their bodies and their reproductive rights…They feel like this is their only option.

Female sterilization surgery, commonly referred to as “getting your tubes tied,” involves cutting, blocking, or removing the fallopian tubes. Unlike vasectomies, female sterilization surgery is permanent and irreversible. 

Many of the women seeking sterilization after Roe v. Wade seem to view it as a way of maintaining control over their bodies.

“Because of Roe being overturned, it is causing me to undergo a major surgery and take on the complications and risks that come with it just so that I don’t have to worry about carrying an unwanted pregnancy,” argues Brandi Shepard, a 26-year-old Ohio native who has been trying to get tubal ligation surgery since she was 21. “I’m pissed. It’s insane that this is what I had to do to maintain bodily autonomy.” 

Ohio currently bans abortions after six weeks and is working on a bill to outlaw abortions and restrict access to birth control. 

Hannah Morgan, 35, also sought sterilization surgery after the Supreme Court’s decision.

“Abortion’s not an option that most people would consider, but it’s always there as a last resort,” said Hannah. With her home state of Missouri being among the first states to ban abortion, she felt that sterilization was her only option. “I can’t rely on anything anymore. I just need something permanent so I don’t have to add this to my list of worries anymore.”

Catherine, a 27-year-old living in Minnesota, scheduled a consultation to discuss sterilization after the court’s decision even though abortion remains legal in her home state. “I thought, well, now is as good a time as ever…I am very afraid of the way things will continue to go because I feel that this is only the beginning.”

Julie Ann Nitsch, a Texas resident and survivor of sexual assault, decided to get sterilized so she would not be forced to give birth if she becomes pregnant after a future assault. “I ripped my organs out” to avoid that, said Nitsch. “It’s sad to think that I can’t have kids, but it’s better than being forced to have children.”

Another impact of the court’s decision is a severe hesitation among doctors to provide treatment to pregnant women – even in cases where ectopic pregnancy threatens the woman’s life.

Some physicians have even stopped prescribing methotrexate (a drug used to relieve debilitating symptoms of lupus) because it could theoretically be used to induce miscarriage.

“The art of medicine is lost and actually has been replaced by fear,” laments Dr. Jessian Munoz, another OB-BYN working in San Antonio. With the decision on Roe v. Wade, physicians are struggling to identify the moment at which a patient with a complicated pregnancy is “sick enough” to undergo surgery.

“We physically watched her get sicker, and sicker, and sicker,” said Munoz of a recent patient who developed a womb infection during a miscarriage. The doctors were forced to wait until they could no longer detect a fetal heartbeat to perform surgery, which saw the patient lose liters of blood and develop severe complications. “All because we were essentially 24 hours behind.”

Sources:

‘Frustrated’ young women are trying to get sterilized after overturning of Roe 

More women are seeking sterilization since Roe vs. Wade was overturned 

Choosing sterilization, delaying treatment: Medical choices in the US are changing amid new abortion laws 

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18 Comments

  1. Bill leibold

    Difference between Americans and Communists (DemocRATs):

    If a Conservative doesn’t want children, they don’t have any kids.
    If a Communist doesn’t want children, they use Planned Parenthood as birth control.
    If a conservative doesn’t like guns, he doesn’t buy one.
    If a Communist doesn’t like guns, they want all guns outlawed.
    If a conservative is a vegetarian, they don’t eat meat.
    If a Communist is a vegetarian, they want all meat products banned for everyone.
    If a conservative is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
    A Communist wonders who is going to take care of him..
    If a conservative doesn’t like a talk show host, they switch channels.
    Communists demand that those they don’t like be shut down.
    If a conservative is a non-believer, they don’t go to church.
    A Communist non-believer wants any mention of God and Jesus silenced.
    If a conservative decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it.
    A Communist demands that the rest of us pay for his.
    Conservatives want a Sovereign nation, with borders and “legal” immigration.
    A Communist wants open borders, and justify it by calling illegal immigrants “undocumented” (for future votes).

    • Nancy Murphy

      Wow! That hit the nail squarely on the head. Too bad none of those nuts never read “A New Guide to Rational Living”, and the other books written by Albert Ellis, PhD.

  2. mojo

    This will be a great relief to all those future babies that would be torn limb for limb, scalded to death in the womb, with their brains sucked out because those women that decided to spread their legs to some man for a few minutes of pleasure.
    Women have many ways to prevent pregnancy without murdering babies.

  3. Ben

    Why do you call democrats communists?

    There are only 10k Americans in the communist party?

    • K Sny

      Because they are closet Communists. They want Communism for the U.S.

      • Ben

        Fair answer, thanks. But I disagree. No wonder they call themselves progressive socialists. That’s why.

        And that’s just a portion of democrats. Unfortunately, the younger and ever growing larger portion. You’re hard right helps that. Believe it or not, I am a Centrist, just leaning left especially in social issues, will probably lean much more right than either Joe or Larry or you when it comes to fiscal issues.

        So, what are some laws, programs, and policies supporting this?

        Stimulus? Tax cuts for money for the masses? A border wall like Berlin’s? I can go on with all sorts of Republican supported socialist issues.

        Would you get rid of Social Security or Medicare? Those are the big ones.

        How about infrastructure -,socialism.
        Public library – socialism
        Schools – socialism

        America has had socialist programs from the beginning of our republic. Always, it has been about where do you draw the line. Without social security, many would starve or be forced to beg the government for support. Medicare is even worse. We bickered in Florida mightily over these and we still do today, but the socialist programs were great advances for our society. I’m not saying all socialist programs are good, they are not. Welfare for example became over-the-top until Clinton, with Republican ideas, brought it better back into scope. But Socialist programs have a place in America and I hope it continues . Likewise I would never like to be a socialist country, I think it’s stymies creativity and inventiveness and frankly, extra hard work.

        • Char

          Ben, having social programs does not make a socialist country. Listing the programs does not negate the definition of what a pure socialist country/communist is. When you look at the policies and law creep over last 50 years and or desire of the loudest screamers does indicate the desire of a communist/socialist country. They dislike free market, they desire more central government control and less private ownership. That is why the left is now called communists, the loud left, not the middle readers but the loud movers and shakers, the ones getting face time, interviews and fawned over are Marxists ideologues. Best example is the huge crowds and destruction done by BLM, who have very openly said they are proud Marxist trained socialists. They embody the definition. Of what socialism is.

          • Ben

            Char, I think less than 10% of democrats party call themselves democratic socialist. I do agree they are growing trend, but they are small. Bernie Sanders is not controlling anything. Nir is AIC and the rest. Pelosi is no communist; more robber baron 🙂

            In 1935 when Social Security was unveiled, they called us communist and socialist.

            In 1945 when Medicare was Being talked about by Democrats, they called us socialist and communist.

            I disaagree; all of the programs I listed are considered socialist programs and therefore part of socialism. I also agree that the creep has been towards socialism. But we are no means a socialist party, we are by no means a socialist country, and I just don’t see that happening.

            Importantly, name me one communist in the Democratic Party and tell me why you say that. Like I said, I can see many democratic socialist, but it is still only a small portion of the entire party.

            I will also say not only is this a growing trend, but the hard push by the hard right has made it grow even faster. Right now, both of my kids are democratic socialist. Don’t blame me, it was nothing I did. Perhaps you can blame the grandmother. I honestly think that over time they will move towards the center, but they are young, they are idealist, and the rabid right has set a hard place we feel needs correction.

            But branding all Democrats communist because of a few socialist programs, most of which are thoroughly enjoyed by Republicans if not overwhelmingly enjoyed by more Republicans than Democrats. For example, my state of New Jersey gives more of its tax dollars away then keeps. It gives those tax dollars to red states so that they can get along. Who’s the commies now? Who’s the socialist now? All I know is I’m working really hard to support red states.

            No, Char, I see the branding as bogus and to-date no one has proved differently except with vitriolic branding and whitewashing the truth.

    • Wallace

      Everyone in the democrat party is backing communism. They are just too stupid to realize it

    • Kawika56

      There were very few card-carrying NAZI in the German population too, but look what they managed to accomplish!

  4. Frank stetson

    Sterilization, 20 yr old rape issues, thousands of uner 15-yr olds with babies each year, failure to treat miscarriages and other pregnancy difficulties for fear of the ban —— the weirdness of unintended consequences has just begun.

    But just think about the great new support systems for all these unwanted. Where’s that story??

    • Kawika56

      That is a LIE that miscarriages and other pregnancy difficulties will not be treated…. and be Legal to be treated!

      • Ben

        No, they’re already running into difficulties when doctors are not quite sure that they will run up against the abortion band. For example, if there is a partial miscarriage, a doctor was afraid that removal of the remaining fetus would violate the ban. Or something like that. There are actual cases already beginning.
        I am sure that in time they will iron out the kinks. It’s just that how many individuals, like this woman, will suffer mightily while they do that.

  5. Tony Bell

    Well now, there is a valid and respectable “my body my choice” decision. To bad it took so long and such vitriol for women to become “responsible” rather than selfish and reactive.

    • Frank stetson

      Yeah, it’s a great choice at 25 to become sterilized just because you fear the potential of facing the abortion band. I’m sure that was gods intent.

  6. Michael Lucero

    Who cares.

  7. Kawika56

    Thus, proving time and time again, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that Leftism is a Transmissible Mental Disease!
    Please, SPAY and NEUTER your LEFTISTS!
    However, their “Transgender” movement and the end of Roe v. Wade, are doing a marvelous job of that already!

    • Ron

      Give the women chastity belts