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21
Oct
Katy patients ask, “Is the surgical sterilization procedure right for me?”
Knowing when you’re ready to start a family or add another child to your family is a big decision that’s not often taken lightly. Patients consider their health, lifestyle, finances, and a host of other factors when making one of the biggest decisions of their lives. Just as critical is the decision that your family is complete and that you will never again want to be pregnant.
When a patient decides she’s done having children, she often looks for a birth control method that she can simply forget about. Some methods of birth control, such as the IUD, can offer this convenience with the ability to remove the device if a patient should change her mind. On the other hand, some patients prefer a permanent form of birth control.
When a couple is sure that they do not want a future pregnancy, they have several options for surgical sterilization. The man can choose to have a vasectomy or the woman can choose to have a tubal ligation surgery or an in-office procedure that uses tiny devises inserted into the fallopian tubes to permanently block them. While nearly three times as many women opt for surgical sterilization, there are several questions to ask before making the decision. Dr. Taryll Jenkins, who helps women of all ages and stages of life with their family planning needs, offers the following points of discussion for his patients before they make such a big decision.
- Would I ever want to have kids again? It’s important to think about the unthinkable and consider if there are any lifestyle changes that might make you want a baby in the future. A job change, a change in your financial stability, loss of a child, or a new partner or spouse in your life are all examples of lifestyle changes that could make you regret your permanent decision. Permanent sterilization is just that, permanent. Trying to reverse the procedure can be dangerous, costly, and it may not work.
- Could something go wrong? Women are more likely to have side effects related to a tubal surgery than men who have a vasectomy. However, in some cases, it may still make more sense for the woman to have her tubes tied. For example, if she is undergoing a planned c-section, a woman may elect to have her tubes tied at the same time.
- How soon does it start working? It’s important to note that tubal ligation begins immediately, while a vasectomy can take several months to be sure that pregnancy won’t occur. If you and your partner or spouse opt for vasectomy, be sure to use a back up method until you’ve been given the green light from the doctor.
Call our office
New patients please call:
855-346-8610
855-346-8610
Existing patients please call:
281-347-2600
281-347-2600
Permanent birth control is a big decision. For more information about any of the surgical sterilization methods, call Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Medicine today to schedule a consultation with Dr. Jenkins.
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Jenkins Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Medicine
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We offer general care, gynecology, and obstetrics services that span all
stages of a woman's life. Dr. Taryll L.
Jenkins, MD, received his undergraduate degree from Louisiana State University and his Doctorate of
Medicine from Meharry
Medical College School of Medicine, TN. He completed his residency training at the
University of Texas and Hermann Hospital, TX and is Board-certified from the American College of
Obstetrics and Gynecology, with years of research experience.
Having graduated from the University of Texas at Arlington with a Bachelor of Science in Biological
Chemistry in 2011, Dr. Stephanie
Roy received her Doctor of Medicine Degree in 2015 from the University of Texas Medical Branch. Today,
she is a leading Board-certified physician who works hard to provide you and your family with
high-quality services. In addition to spending time at the practice, Dr. Roy possesses extensive
volunteer experience in the community. She was also a tutor at the Medical Careers Diversity Program
in 2012 and, since then, has spent her free time volunteering for the St. Vincent’s Clinic.
Dr. Tiffany Ikwuagwu is passionate about caring for the diverse communities in Katy, TX. Having completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Houston, her medical degree at the Baylor College of Medicine, and her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the McGovern Medical School, she worked as principal investigator on a research project with Dr. Nana Ankumah at UT Houston. A member of the American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association, and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Dr. Ikwuagwu has served in several leadership roles and has made many contributions to the community.
Yara Ramirez, MD, earned her
Bachelor of Science degree from Baylor University and her doctorate in medicine from the University
of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, where she also completed her residency. She won the
Resident Teaching Award from UTMB’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology for two consecutive
years.
Dr. Ramirez has researched extensively on many obstetrics-related topics. She has been a Junior
Fellow Representative for the UTMB Residency Program and a Medical Student Education Committee
Member at the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has volunteered for various local
and foreign community programs. Her fluency in Spanish and French is an asset to her organization.
Nadia Alexander is a Board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner with a Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Texas Health Science Center. With seven years of experience in women’s health and a focus on obstetrics and ambulatory gynecology (vaginitis, UTI, and vaginal bleeding), she provides quality, compassionate care to patients in various stages of reproductive life. She is fluent in English and Spanish and is the lead contact for our Telehealth service.
