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Post-Dobbs Sterilization Boom: Key Findings
The U.S. Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson decision triggered a 51% surge in tubal ligations—a permanent contraception surgery—across four states within a year. Published in JAMA Health Forum, the study highlights a demographic shift: a growing proportion of patients were younger and had never given birth, signaling heightened urgency about reproductive autonomy.
Why the Sudden Increase?
Experts attribute the rise to:
– Loss of abortion access: Fear of future restrictions drove proactive decisions.
– Demographic shifts: 30% of patients were under 30, and 18% had no prior births—unprecedented for this procedure.
– Policy uncertainty: States with trigger laws saw sharper spikes, suggesting a direct link to legal changes.
Broader Implications
The trend underscores how abortion bans are reshaping family planning. While tubal ligation is irreversible, the data reveals a stark trade-off: women prioritizing control over fertility amid shrinking options.
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