Study: Tubal ligation surgeries surged after abortion restrictions

Editor's Note

Tubal ligation procedures increased after the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade and were particularly concentrated in states with abortion bans, according to a September 11 Associated Press (AP) report on a study published in JAMA.

Researchers analyzed insurance claims for approximately 4.8 million women across 36 states and Washington, D.C., categorizing regions as "banned," "limited," or "protected" based on abortion policies, AP reports. In the second half of 2022, tubal ligations increased across all categories, with banned states showing a steady 3% monthly rise.

The surge follows concerns about contraceptive failures and access to abortion. As detailed in the full report, the findings align with other research documenting a rise in sterilization procedures after the Supreme Court's Dobbs decision.