Sterilization

Other “permanent” procedures, such as tubal ligations and vasectomies, treat the body as an object by removing or disabling a healthy, major functioning part of the body. If the reproductive system is healthy, it should never be altered through surgery, drugs or other devices because an attack on the body is an attack on the entire human person.

Side effects of sterilization are numerous. In some cases, a benign (non-cancerous) but painful and sensitive lump known as a granuloma may develop in men. This is a result of leakage of sperm from the cut end of the vas deferens. Some men report decreased sexual desire, and a small number of men experience long-term testicular pain. One side effect women report after tubal ligation is an unexpected regret because they feel like they have “lost their womanhood — their ability to conceive children.” In fact, many women experience post-traumatic stress after a tubal ligation that is similar to the feelings of women who have had abortions. Some have even stated that they are grieving over “the babies that might have been.”