Sequelae of Tubal Ligation

Seventy-five consecutive patients undergoing hysterectomy subsequent to elective sterilization were studied regarding the occurrence of the post-tubal-ligation syndrome of pelvic pain and/or menorrhagia. Twenty patients were clinically considered to have the syndrome. In none of the patients operated on specifically for menstrual abnormalities could the findings be remotely attributed to the sterilization procedure. Five of the 20 patients had pelvic varicosities and one had pelvic adhesions that may have been a consequence of previous sterilization and conceivably the cause for the pelvic pain for which the patients were undergoing hysterectomy. I question the legitimacy of the post-tubal-ligation syndrome as a reason for hysterectomy.