Do Tubal Ligations Cause Early Menopause?

Being a registered nurse, I assess many people with many illnesses. Some of these illnesses interest me on a personal level, this one in particular.

I received a 45 year old woman with a diagnosis of hypertension. While questioning her on when her last menstrual period was, she stated, " I haven't had a period since I was 38 years old." She went on to tell me that after having a tubal ligation, her periods decreased, then stopped at age 38. I was shocked, I didn't think there was a link between tubal ligations and menopause. This patient further explained that she'd been through hot flashes, acne, mood swings, and all the signs of menopause. She had no hysterectomy, just a tubal ligation. She was convinced that the tubal caused her early menopause. To my surprise, I discovered that there is a link between post tubal ligation and early menopause.

In the United States, 600,000 to 800,000 tubal ligations are performed, yearly. Epidemiological studies have shown that women who receive this procedure are protected against ovarian cancer. Studies further show that this protection is because of ovarian dysfunction. If women who have received tubal ligations show a decline in ovarian cancer based on ovarian decline, there must be a link. If there is ovarian decline, menopause will follow.

Another study in Britain showed a possible link. After following 374 post tubal patients, 43% of them had menstrual disturbances requiring hormonal treatments. Why would 43%, almost half, of patients need hormonal treatments, following a tubal? Let's explore the reproductive system further to educate ourselves concerning this procedure.

A tubal ligation is a surgical procedure done to sterilize or prevent a woman from getting pregnant. This is done by cutting off or blocking the fallopian tubes. The fallopian tubes are a pair of tubes located close to the ovaries in the pelvic area. The tubes are between the pelvis and the uterus. In a normal functioning reproductive woman, the fallopian tubes are essential for pregnancy. Once the ovary releases the egg, the fallopian tube opens it's finger like projections and catches the egg ( like a mitt catching a ball). From inside the fallopian tubes, the male sperm fertilizes the egg, which produces an embryo. The tiny hairs, inside the fallopian tube, pushes the embryo into the uterus. As you can see, without functioning fallopian tubes, reproduction isn't possible.

The theory behind the link between tubal ligation and premenopause is known as post tubal syndrome (PTS). This is a "doctor caused" syndrome. I asked a doctor at my employment about this, he immediately stated, "I don't believe in that!" I could tell by his erupt comment that he did believe in that. As I was saying, during surgery, the blood supply to the ovaries are damaged. As previously discussed, the ovaries are very close to the fallopian tubes. Considering the proximity of the fallopian tubes and the ovaries, it is quite possible to hinder blood flow to the ovaries, while doing this procedure. This causes a rapid decline in estrogen, over time, menopausal symptoms will follow.

These types of symptoms include: Weight gain, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings, dry skin, hair loss, facial hair, and many more. If your having any of these symptoms post a tubal ligation, visit your doctor.

When deciding to have a common surgical operation, education is the key. Take the initiative and talk to your doctor about possible side effects. Go online for further information. There are some very reputable healthcare web sites, take advantage of them. After learning everything you possibly can, make your decision. Remember, it's your body and you only have one.