“No, It’s Permanent”: TikToker Goes Viral After Sharing How A Gynecologist Refused To Sterilize Her

Tubal ligation — also known as having your tubes tied or tubal sterilization — is a type of permanent birth control. During a tubal ligation, the fallopian tubes are cut, tied, or blocked to permanently prevent pregnancy.
ACOG (The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) states that it is morally acceptable to carry out the desired sterilization in young women and nulliparous women who do not want to have children. Medical professionals who offer permanent sterilization within a reproductive justice framework acknowledge that all women have the freedom to pursue and avoid motherhood.
Sadly, many doctors still have a paternalistic attitude toward requests for sterilization, especially from young women. This is what happened to Olivia, 22, when she posted on TikTok about her encounter with a doctor.
In a viral video with over 2 million views, Olivia reenacted the appointment she had when a gynecologist rejected her request for sterilization, telling her "no" and "it's permanent." Below is a link to the complete video Olivia released on her channel, which ignited a crucial discussion on women's rights to make decisions regarding their bodies and reproductive systems.

This 22-year-old woman described how a gynecologist rejected her request for sterilization after she said she didn't want children

Source: lvdwns

Source: lvdwns

Source: lvdwns

Online, other women generously offered Olivia their support, expressing their legal right to choose whether or not to have children. She told the reporters, "I’ve learned that a significant amount of women have been in the same position being denied tubal litigation and similar procedures."

A much-needed discussion regarding women's rights and their decision to forgo having children was started by Olivia's video, which received 2 million views

The woman whose TikTok video went viral claims she is “only 22, unmarried with no children so I wasn’t surprised by my doctor’s response; however, a lot of women with several children already are being denied the procedure on the basis that they might want more, or perhaps that they might remarry and their next husband may want a child of his own.”

Olivia made further videos defending her positions as the media picked up on her story and more women entered the discussion

Source: lvdwns

In the case of a hypothetical divorce or man, a woman shouldn't be refused treatment based on her own decision about her own body, according to Olivia. "I’m frustrated in my own case, but I can’t imagine these women’s frustration and pain."

This woman stated something so obvious that sadly doesn’t get talked about enough

She explicitly addressed every man who kept making comments about her choice

A much-needed debate about the reality that not all women desire children and this is absolutely OK triggered by the discussion about women's rights to sterilization and doctors' paternalism. Olivia claimed to have gotten encouragement from other ladies who are likewise against having children.
“A lot of women were commenting their relief to see someone else with the same ‘child free’ mindset. I guess in the past it’s been pretty taboo for a woman to not want children, never mind be vocal about it, so I’m glad to be a voice for all of the women who feel isolated in that belief,” she said, adding that since societal conventions are shifting, it's now easier to talk about topics like this.

Many women entered the discussion, and they shared their own related stories

Here’s how people reacted to her video