More women got tubal ligations after Roe v. Wade was overturned
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LOS ANGELES - A study published in JAMA reveals a significant rise in sterilization procedures among women, particularly in states where abortion is now banned following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade.
The research, which analyzed insurance claims data from 2021 and 2022, showed that tubal ligations increased steadily across 36 states and Washington, D.C., after the Dobbs decision in June 2022.
The data was categorized by states with different abortion policies: "banned," "limited," and "protected." Although the increase in procedures was observed in all categories, it was most notable in states with abortion bans, where the rate of tubal ligations grew by 3% monthly in the latter half of 2022.
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Why are more women opting for sterilization?
The rise in sterilizations can be attributed to concerns over abortion access. As Dr. Clayton Alfonso from Duke University observed in his OB-GYN practice, patients expressed fear of contraceptive failure and unwanted pregnancies, leading many to choose sterilization. Women who didn’t want children or more children saw sterilization as a safeguard in states where abortion access was restricted or eliminated.
Researcher Xiao Xu, the lead author of the study, noted that this trend aligns with the significant legal changes regarding abortion, stating, "It’s not entirely surprising." These findings are consistent with another study published in April 2023 that also highlighted increased demand for sterilization among women aged 18-30.
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What does this mean for reproductive health in the future?
While the data from 2022 is illuminating, experts are keen to investigate the long-term effects of the Dobbs decision on reproductive health.
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Both Dr. Alfonso and the study authors emphasized the need for further research to determine how these trends evolve as abortion laws continue to change across the U.S. Xu’s team is expected to explore more data in the future to assess the full impact.
The Source
This article is based on a study published in JAMA, with insights from Dr. Clayton Alfonso of Duke University, and references earlier research from JAMA Health Forum. Additional context is drawn from an Associated Press report.