In this episode, Dr. Eleanor Bimla Schwartz and Dr. Kelly Treder discuss misconceptions about tubal sterilization, including debunking notions that is it 100% fool-proof, that the surgery is reversible, that it is more effective than other contraceptive options, or that there is little to no pain post-surgery. “I think we do have fairly widespread misunderstanding of what it means to have your tubes tied. A lot of people seem to have the understanding that that would be something you could easily untie and that it would be a procedure that you could undo,” Dr. Schwartz says. They highlight how important it is for providers to share information with patients about other long-acting contraception options (arm implant, IUD, vasectomy) and their effectiveness with preventing pregnancy, side effects, cost, accessibility, and longevity compared to surgery. Because of this, it is crucial for providers to be informed about the nuances of different contraceptive options. Dr. Schwartz and Dr. Treder provide firsthand insight into what difficult conversations surrounding contraceptives with patients can look like. “I think it's just our obligation to make sure that they know about all available options, that they're not arriving at this decision that they need to have a surgery because they think it's the only thing that's safe for them or the only thing that will work well for them,” says Dr. Schwartz.  

This episode is a follow up to S4 E5 Lesser-Known Forms of Birth Control and Downplayed Side-effects: Providing Empowering Contraceptive Carewith Dr. Karlin and health educator Mariana Horne.

Click here to view the episode transcript.