Tubal Ligation

[Sarah23]

Hi Everyone,

I would just like to know if anyone has been told by their G.Ps that getting Tubal Ligation [sterilization] reduces your risk of getting ovarian cancer? it is a form of birth control so there maybe something in it like everything with ovarian cancer its about weighing up your risks!!

sarah23

[Hidden]

Hi Sarah,

There seems to be some evidence that it might.

Have a loook at:

ovariancancer.about.com/od/...

Isadora.

[SandyL]

Hi Sarah,

According to evidence and statistics it seems to point in that direction, however, I was diagnosed with Stage 1V Ovarian cancer (April 1999) and had had tubes tied after the birth of my fourth son (17 years prior) - so in my case it didn't help at all. Everyone is different. It is a baffling disease with lots of grey areas.

Sandy.

[Hidden]

Hi Sarah

My family recently discovered we have the BRCA 1 genetic mutation putting us at high risk of ovarian and breast cancer. I have ovarian cancer, as did my grandmother and my aunt. My mother also tested positive for the BRCA 1 mutation but has never had cancer. She had tubal ligation aged about 30.

Cancer Research UK say:

Tubal sterilisation - Results from the Nurses’ Health Study showed a 34% risk reduction for ovarian cancer in women reporting a history of tubal ligation. A recent meta analysis showed a similar result, though other cohort studies have not shown an effect and results of case-control studies have been conflicting.

best regards

Sharon

[Anne-2]

Hi Sarah

I had a tubal ligation after the birth of my third daughter in 1985. However, I was found to have an ovarian cyst that turned out to be a granulosa cell tumour last year so you never can tell. I had also read that having your tubes tied lowered your risk of ovarian cancer. There must be other factors in all this.

Regards

Anne

[pixie]

I had my tubes tied when I was 36 - but developed fallopian tube cancer 10 years later. My tumour was the same type as the most common ovarian tumour (serous adeno carcinoma) and was treated the same as OC.

In all respects I was low risk - healthy, active, no genetic issues - but still developed cancer. Really, you never know.

However, mine was discovered when my tube twisted, causing pain. Maybe if the tube wasn't clipped it might not have twisted, and the cancer might've spread before it was found. I'd had no symptoms.

best wishes

Gael

[lyndhurst]

Hi Sarah,

i am another who did have tubal ligation back in 1989 but also developed ovarian cancer which was thankfully caught very early in 2009, and for now and am fit and well

jo

[MidwifeGill]

As very recently diagnosed with OC I would just have the bloody ovaries removed as soon as family complete......no worries then