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Tubal ligations and lower incidence of ovarian cancer

momanderson920
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I read recently that women who have tubal ligations have a significantly lower rate of ovarian cancer and they believe it produces some kind of protective process. I wish I had known that 20 years ago when I had my husband have a vasectomy and forewent the tubal. I might not be in these shoes now. I would be interested to know how many of you with ovarian cancer had tubal ligations or did not have tubal ligations. We could do our own little survey. I did not.

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Exercise Cancer Pregnancy Ovarian cancer Vasectomy Menopause Ovarian cysts Premarin Childbirth Hysterectomy Cervical cancer Breast feeding Breast cancer Tubal ligation HPV Obesity Lung cancer

34 replies

kla

I had a tubal ligation after four children, due to a problem with the pill. I was in my mid twenties.
I think most of you have figured out I read everything I can get my hands on. Based on that I read a study years ago that said there was a lower occurrence of cervical cancer in women in Israel and they thought it had to do with circumcision. i.e. men in Israel being circumcised due to religious requirements. My husband for over 20 years was not.
Since were always wondering here just thought I'd ask.

dwm26

I didnot have a tubal ligation.

I read somewhere that breast feeding also reduces the rate of ovca. I breast fed both of my girl for almost a year.

jeaniet

Tubal Ligation in 1998. OC in 2008.
Jeanie

kla

I breast fed all four.
beginning to think my only risk factor was my weight.I have always had trouble keeping it under control. Gain forty lbs. one year lose the same 40 lbs. next year. the real trouble is now I am bloody crazy worried about losing weight, as before I got really ill I had maintained the healthiest weight and lifestyle for over 18 months. then started losing weight really fast . Absolutely no one thought that as a sign I was ill. In fact one Dr. kept congratulating me on the weight loss.

momanderson920

Thanks for the responses. It appears that this is not too good a protection. I am like some of you. I had 6 pregnancies, only 3 live births, breastfed all three for long periods so did not menstruate during that time. I did not take birth control. I tried it several times and it made me deeply depressed, even low dose. The only risk factors I can think of were overweight and lack of exercise or not consistent exercise. I tended to do exercise for awhile, then quit and that was my history. I don't know if I used talc...may have when younger. I had ovarian cysts in later years. Not much else. I don't think they know what protects and what doesn't really.

zircons

Tubal ligation in 1971, OVC in 2006. Breastfed all three of my children for at least 6 months each. Go figure.

momanderson920

I am starting to wonder where they come up with these findings since so many of us do not fit those statistics. I just read a study that says obesity contributes to ovarian cancer on the doctor website Oncology STAT. I do fit that feature as I was overweight for a number of years and when it was discovered. I am 5' 3" and weighed around 165-180 for the past couple years and I wasn't good about consistent exercise. If that was it, I am going to preach to every woman I meet to lose weight and exercise. Who knows what causes this?

melf

I had a tubal back in 2000 and a partial hysterectomy (kept the ovaries) in 2003 and still ended up "one of the lucky ones". Now, had I been smart, I would have really faught with the doc to take the ovaries as well.

Maybe others are more fortunate than I...

Mel

melf

PS
I breast fed all my babies as well...

mel

youngmom

I did not have a tubal. I did have some OC risk factors: first period at the age of 11, had one and only child at age 37, had been overweight in recent years, and at the time of diagnosis ( age 49 ) I was nowhere near menopause. However, I had taken the pill for a long time, had breast fed, had exercised, and had a fairly decent diet. I do wonder though about my daughter's childbirth - it was a C-section with a lot of complications, and I read that any type of inflammation or injury to an area of the body can make it more susceptible to cancer.

Edith

here you have the difference of statistical versus anecdotel evidence. The statistics still hold true, it's just an example, that if you have a statistical lower than average chance of ovarian cancer ( like me), it doesn't mean you will never get it.
Tubal ligation: 1985.
Ov-cancer 3C: 2006
2 children: breast fed for 1 year each ( though 1. at age 37 )
long years of birth control pills
my chances where lower, but not nill!

momanderson920

Edith, I believe in scientific evidence and reputable sources, but sometimes I question where the statistics come from. It just seems odd that so many women who have had tubals have ovarian cancer. When there is not a source for the statistic, I can't help but question. I will try and find the source of this statement...I remember it to be a well recognized source similar to the ACS, but don't remember seeing any references.

kmarienap

I had one in 1980. I also previousely took the pill and had 5 pregnancys and breast fed. No family history of gynecological cancers. So, I met all the criteria for not getting ovarian cancer and got it anyway! Although my mother always referred to having to take shots back in 1955 in order to support a pregnancy. I am in the process of trying to find out if this was DES. She always called it "horse pee". I understand that premarin is made from this, but I dont know if that was available back then or if that is what they used for this. I will let you know what I find out.

ccdatty2

Tubal ligation in 80's after 3 pregnancies - 2 live.
On the pill for 5-6 years only
Menopause mid-40s
Weight gain 40s to become 50 lbs overweight
Stage IIIC OC 8/05

You cannot believe all the studies out there. You must look at who is funding the study etc.

metwo

Tubal ligation in 1987 after 3 pregnancies and 4 live births
pill for 10 years
no HRT
105 lbs 5'5"
menopause 49
no family history / Jewish but BRCA1&2 negative
OVCA 3C 03/08

momanderson920

It seems like it is the opposite....more women who have tubals get ovarian cancer from our mini survey. I think they really don't know what causes it.

kla

Moms I think what you are seeing is we all want an answer as to why we are the chosen few.My brother gave me a lecture recently on being negative. Trying to beat myself up on the past.He picked the wrong subject and needed to hear what I had to say.I have 3 daughters , four granddaughters,6 nieces and 4 grandnieces and one great grand daughter.How I got it is not the factor what they can find out now may save them from this disease & by Gods little green apples I will pick up everyone I can and look for the worm holes to see if I can help find an answer.
If you didn't hear it I just gave a raspberry to all those who say just forget it.
Which brings up a question. I was diagnosed with goiters about a year before I was actually diagnosed with ovca. No one seemed to concerned and life went on. They actually shrank with chemo. Did any of you have thyroid disease before?

momanderson920

I am with you kla. Part of me wants to know since I worry about my girls and what they can do to lessen their odds. And for others, too. Your brother is right...there is no point in beating ourselves up for the past, ie. my lack of exercise and overweight, because there is nothing I can do about that now. I have cancer. I can try and prevent it by keeping my weight down and exercising but the past is behind us now.

jeaniet

To kla.........
Yes, hypothroid for many years. Can't even remember how many.
I am 49 now. Diagnosed OC at 48.
Jeanie

kmarienap

statistics are done on only a certain amount of people for a certain amount of time. that is why the are not reliable but used like a rough graph. my dr told me that these statistic are based on 10 yrs. so it is kind of obsolete. but something is needed as a guide and for now this is the best they can do. everyone is different as is how this disease affects each of us differently. makes me think that if 100% of all the people responsible for these statistics had the same situation as myself, then these particular numbers would be entirely opposite of what they are!

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