If a woman had a condition in which her doctor told her she should not have any more children due to the high possibility of her uterus rupturing, would tubal ligation be permitted?
No, there are no exceptions to the Church’s ban on direct sterilization. A woman in such a situation is permitted to use Natural Family Planning (NFP), which is highly effective when used properly, and can contact the Couple to Couple League for information on how to use NFP in its safest, most effective manner. She and her husband are also free to choose complete abstinence during the remainder of her fertile years if they are unwilling to take any chances that she might become pregnant.
If such a woman does become pregnant, despite careful use of NFP, she should contact the National Catholic Bioethics Center for consultation on the morally legitimate courses of action she may take to save the lives of her child and herself.
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