Negative experiences of Iranian women underwent tubal ligation: A qualitative study

Background: Tubal ligation (TL) with more than ۹۹% effectiveness considered an irreversible contraceptive method among many couples. Objectives: This study was conducted to identify the challenges and problems of women after tubal ligation (TL) and its physical, psychosocial and familial consequences of this method with a qualitative study. Methods: This descriptive qualitative study was conducted on ۱۴ sterilized women between the ages of ۲۵ and ۴۰ from March to October ۲۰۱۷ in Rasht, Iran. The participants were selected with a purposeful method. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. Qualitative data were analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results: The experiences of sterilized women were classified into six main themes: dissatisfaction with sexual and marital life, regret, feelings of resentment and physical-emotional damage, menstrual disorder, feelings of low self-esteem and changes in female identity, disruption of social interactions. Conclusion: Sterilized women experienced a wide range of physical, familial, sexual, and social problems after TL. Therefore, it is necessary to provide effective counseling regarding the positive and negative complications of this method when proposing sterilization.

Keywords:

qualitative study , tubal ligation , content analysis