Is having a tubal ligation always a mortal sin?

[nursestephanie]

Hi! I am a mother of three children. My OB told me since I had already had three cesarean sections that I needed to have a tubal ligation to prevent me from ever getting pregnant again. He said that it could be a life-threatening situation for me or another child if I were to get pregnant again. That being said I had originally planned on having it done since I thought that it would fall under the principle of double effect; being that the intent was not to just prevent a pregnancy but to prevent a devastating consequence that could result. While I was pregnant I researched more in depth and came to the conclusion that it would be a mortal sin for me to have a tubal ligation. Now, I am extremely fearful of becoming pregnant if I have sex with my husband. We are using NFP, but we were using that when I became pregnant with my last child…I am wondering if I made the right decision or should I have had a tubal ligation. I am confused as to whether or not the situation that I have would mean that having a tubal would or would not be a mortal sin. Any thoughts?

 

[Seatuck]

Hi! I am a mother of three children. My OB told me since I had already had three cesarean sections that I needed to have a tubal ligation to prevent me from ever getting pregnant again. He said that it could be a life-threatening situation for me or another child if I were to get pregnant again. That being said I had originally planned on having it done since I thought that it would fall under the principle of double effect; being that the intent was not to just prevent a pregnancy but to prevent a devastating consequence that could result. While I was pregnant I researched more in depth and came to the conclusion that it would be a mortal sin for me to have a tubal ligation. Now, I am extremely fearful of becoming pregnant if I have sex with my husband. We are using NFP, but we were using that when I became pregnant with my last child…I am wondering if I made the right decision or should I have had a tubal ligation. I am confused as to whether or not the situation that I have would mean that having a tubal would or would not be a mortal sin. Any thoughts?

No, I’m sorry you could not have a tubal ligation under these conditions. You would be having a tubal ligation to prevent a pregnancy. You want to do some studying to find a form of NFP that will work for you and practice very conservatively . That’s really your only choice. Unless both you and your husband agree that you should abstain from marital relations until your childbearing years are over. I know it is scary.Pray about this before the blessed sacrament.
You also want to really research your medical condition . Many women have had sucessful C-Sections after being told that they shouldn’t. Make sure there is a real reason for you to avoid pregnancy . Not just the old well you’ve had c-sections and you shouldn’t have any more.

 

[milkbar]

First,

envoymagazine.com/familyplanning.htm

That article has helped me.

Second, get a second opinion from a VBAC-friendly doctor. Your doctor’s information is outdated. The number of c-sections you’ve had is not the determining factor in whether you should have more children.

I know what it’s like to be afraid like you are, though. I really do. You have my prayers.

 

[camerong]

Have you looked into the Creighton Model? I believe this is the most effective method of NFP. As the website says,

The effectiveness of the Creighton Model System has been extensively studied and a meta-analysis of the system incorporating the data from five separate studies into a composite which includes 1,876 couples over 17,130 couple months of use has been published. These studies all utilizing life-table analysis and an objective assessment of pregnancies, reported the range of the method-effectiveness to avoid pregnancy at the 12th ordinal month to be 98.7 to 99.8 (with the five-study composite 99.5).

I think your situation clearly requires either abstinence or NFP–I’ve heard your situation addressed on Catholic Answers a number of times by the staff apologists, and the answer is always the same. That said, I think the Creighton Method differs from common NFP–it is individually suited to you, it is well-supported by cutting edge science, and is extremely effective.

Good luck!

 

[nursestephanie]

No, I’m sorry you could not have a tubal ligation under these conditions. You would be having a tubal ligation to prevent a pregnancy. You want to do some studying to find a form of NFP that will work for you and practice very conservatively . That’s really your only choice. Unless both you and your husband agree that you should abstain from marital relations until your childbearing years are over. I know it is scary.Pray about this before the blessed sacrament.
You also want to really research your medical condition . Many women have had sucessful C-Sections after being told that they shouldn’t. Make sure there is a real reason for you to avoid pregnancy . Not just the old well you’ve had c-sections and you shouldn’t have any more.

Thank you. I have talked with my husband and he is definitely not willing to abstain although I would be. So, I agree I think NFP is probably our only option. Well, my OB was basing his opinion on the fact that I had 3 c-sections and he said that my uterus had a lot of scar tissue and could not handle another pregnancy. He said the risk of uterine rupture would be great…I know that was probably just his opinion but I trust him.

 

[nursestephanie]

Have you looked into the Creighton Model? I believe this is the most effective method of NFP. As the website says,

The effectiveness of the Creighton Model System has been extensively studied and a meta-analysis of the system incorporating the data from five separate studies into a composite which includes 1,876 couples over 17,130 couple months of use has been published. These studies all utilizing life-table analysis and an objective assessment of pregnancies, reported the range of the method-effectiveness to avoid pregnancy at the 12th ordinal month to be 98.7 to 99.8 (with the five-study composite 99.5).

I think your situation clearly requires either abstinence or NFP–I’ve heard your situation addressed on Catholic Answers a number of times by the staff apologists, and the answer is always the same. That said, I think the Creighton Method differs from common NFP–it is individually suited to you, it is well-supported by cutting edge science, and is extremely effective.

Good luck!

We are using the Creighton model now. We were using it with my last one as well, but I think we were not following it as closely as we should have been because we really didn’t mind having another child at the time. I think this is probably our only option so I am taking it a little more serious now,so I am sure that will make the system more effective. It just makes me nervous.

 

[nursestephanie]

First,

envoymagazine.com/familyplanning.htm

That article has helped me.

Second, get a second opinion from a VBAC-friendly doctor. Your doctor’s information is outdated. The number of c-sections you’ve had is not the determining factor in whether you should have more children.

I know what it’s like to be afraid like you are, though. I really do. You have my prayers.

Thanks for the article. I forwarded it to my husband, who is convinced that we could have a tubal ligation or use some other form of contraception in our situation…

 

[EmeraldWings]

Thanks for the article. I forwarded it to my husband, who is convinced that we could have a tubal ligation or use some other form of contraception in our situation…

i would strongly recommend talking to your priest about this before you make a decision, or if your priest can’t give you a straight answer(like so many nowadays) than maybe try contacting a priest who will know, or atleast will find out for you,
for example, these priests - fssp.org/en/coordonnees.htm#USA
they are very well educated in matters like these, and when there’s something they don’t know, they know how to find out, and they will take your matter very seriously.

 

[1ke]

We are using the Creighton model now. We were using it with my last one as well, but I think we were not following it as closely as we should have been because we really didn’t mind having another child at the time. I think this is probably our only option so I am taking it a little more serious now,so I am sure that will make the system more effective. It just makes me nervous.

Then I suggest you look at Marquette. The Marquette Model of NFP adds a fertility monitor to the Creighton system. Your Creighton instructor can also teach you to temperature cross-check. Intimacy in the post-ovulatory phase is conservative use but should allow you to have intimacy with your husband.

 

[tjm190]

Even with perfect use of NFP, there is an estimated 2% failure rate after a year of use- if that is acceptable to you then go right ahead.

 

[Gerard_Nadal]

Hi! I am a mother of three children. My OB told me since I had already had three cesarean sections that I needed to have a tubal ligation to prevent me from ever getting pregnant again. He said that it could be a life-threatening situation for me or another child if I were to get pregnant again. That being said I had originally planned on having it done since I thought that it would fall under the principle of double effect; being that the intent was not to just prevent a pregnancy but to prevent a devastating consequence that could result. While I was pregnant I researched more in depth and came to the conclusion that it would be a mortal sin for me to have a tubal ligation. Now, I am extremely fearful of becoming pregnant if I have sex with my husband. We are using NFP, but we were using that when I became pregnant with my last child…I am wondering if I made the right decision or should I have had a tubal ligation. I am confused as to whether or not the situation that I have would mean that having a tubal would or would not be a mortal sin. Any thoughts?

It sounds like you are asking the wrong question here. The issue at the root is whether or not you are indeed in danger of uterine rupture with a fourth pregnancy? I would get about five opinions and the current position of the governing board for OB/GYN’s.

I just found this thread here on forums that addresses your concerns.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=127271

God Bless

 

[milkbar]

Even with perfect use of NFP, there is an estimated 2% failure rate after a year of use- if that is acceptable to you then go right ahead.

Some sources quote lower failure rates.

Really, if you are using OPK sticks, charting your temperature, and observing cervical position and mucus, you can be 100% certain of when you’re ovulating. I would guess that most of the “failures” occur in the week to week-and-a-half prior to ovulation–I have a friend with a child who was technically conceived nine days after the marital act. Most people consider nine days to be well outside the fertile window.

So if you want a much, much lower failure rate, abstain during the entire two weeks or so from the first day of your menses to ovulation. After you know ovulation has occurred, you have another two or so weeks of complete infertility. (If you conceive during that period after you know you’ve ovulated already, Somebody must have very different plans for your family than you have for yourselves.) My non-statistician guess is that your failure rate would then be on par with that of tubal ligation, which does also have a failure rate, albeit a very low one.

 

[betsy_suzanne]

I believe I would go and talk with another OB/GYN. My dear friend has 11 children. The first 2 were born the old fashioned way and then she has had 7 by c-section and 2 more the old fashioned way. I think too many doctors are too quick to ladle out pills and perform tubals by telling women that it would be too dangerous to have another child. I think more times than not it has to do with society’s view of women having large numbers of children. When my grandmother (one of 16) was a child it was not uncomon for women to have lots and lots of children. Now it is viewed as “wrong” to have large families…“How can one mother take care of all those children and give each one the attention they need” kind of mentality. Well, I am here to tell ya, my friend’s children are happy, healthy, wonderful kids all loved by their mother and father. Get a second or even third opinion preferably from a Catholic OB/GYN.

In Christ,
Betsy

 

[Bluegoat]

First, remember that even very good ABC has a failure rate.

But I think you need another opinion, from a doctor who performs VBACs, not another doctor. There may be particularities to your case, but many women have more than 3 sections. More to the point though, even after multiple sections it is usually safer to have vaginal births. Unfortunately, most hospitals and doctors in the US do not allow this, though it is recognized everywhere else. It is related to insurance coverage, not medical evidence.