Any woman who has had children and would like to have no others should, if considering undergoing tubal ligation, learn about Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome (PTLS) before doing so.
Although no one knows how many women will or do experience the symptoms associated with PTLS following having their tubes tied, though one source stated up to 35%, all women need to know about it so that they can make an informed decision.
Presently, there are some different theories on the possible causes of PTLS following a tubal ligation.
Some think it is caused through a change in hormone levels within the woman's body after having their tubes tied.
This can be caused by damage to the blood supply of the ovaries or damage to the ovaries themselves.
Another theory is that the receptor cells that relay the messages about hormones are damaged.
Whichever the reason, for some women, the sudden loss or ceasing of the production of estrogen or hormones can lead to other problems.
Plus they may go into hormone shock which can affect the way in which the brain functions.
Whatever the cause, the symptoms of PTLS are varied.
The kinds of side effects that women can suffer from include such things as increased cramps and increased bleeding when menstruating.
Her menstrual cycles may become irregular or she may miss periods completely or have much longer ones.
In some cases, it has been noted that women become depressed, angry, confused and find themselves with memory problems in the much same way as those who suffer from Alzheimer's.
At several sites on the Internet, a list of 34 possible symptoms can be found though some may show up to 45 symptoms.
Many women, upon complaining of symptoms to their doctor, will find they are put on hormones or birth control pills to regulate their hormones.
In fact, some doctors think that PTLS is simply caused by the fact the women go off birth control pills after their surgery.
However, this doesn't explain the many, many women who were not on the pill before having the surgery, but in fact were pregnant, and still end up suffering the symptoms.
If the hormones or the pill does not help with the symptoms, the woman will most likely find her doctor recommending either a hysterectomy or that her symptoms and pain are all in her head.
Another thing women should be made aware of before they decide to undergo tubal ligation is that when their ovaries are unable to function, important hormones that protect them from heart disease and osteoporosis are no longer being produced.
These are conditions that women will not only begin to experience when the menopause begins naturally, but possibly sooner due to the surgery.
In fact, there is a greater risk for these women to develop coronary heart disease and bone problems much earlier in their lives.
However, not all forms of tubal ligation may lead to a woman suffering from PTLS.
It appears there is a higher risk of a woman developing this syndrome if the fallopian tubes are cauterized rather than clips or rings being used to create a tubal blockage.
This may be due to the fact that the cauterization affects tissue beyond just the point it is applied and may impact the ovaries themselves if done too close.
Unfortunately, getting clips or rings is no guarantee you will not suffer from the symptoms.
When it comes to treating PTLS, the only real way to do so is through undergoing tubal ligation reversal surgery.
This procedure reconnects the fallopian tubes which means the blood flow and pathway are re-established between the ovaries and uterus improving the regulation of estrogen and other hormones in the woman's body.