In 2023, a woman in Pittsburgh sought a hysterectomy to alleviate the pain she was experiencing after cervical cancer treatment. However, a doctor dismissed her concerns and said that she should have more children in the future, was too young, and may regret it. Later testing revealed that she had a condition for which a hysterectomy should have been the standard treatment.
 
Stories like these are far too common, with many women reporting being denied or discouraged from undergoing a permanent contraceptive procedure based on their age or even being told they need a husband’s approval. Therefore, we plan to introduce legislation to prohibit a physician from denying a patient medically necessary sterilization on the basis of age, number of children, marital status, or fertility goals contrary to the patient’s statement.
 
An individual may seek permanent contraception for a variety of medical reasons. For instance, hysterectomy may be medically recommended as a treatment for uterine fibroids, endometriosis, or chronic pelvic pain. These procedures are safe, effective, and routinely performed by obstetrician-gynecologists. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), permanent contraception is the most common method of birth control for women aged 15-49 years.
 
Please join us in co-sponsoring this important legislation to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have the right to seek medically appropriate treatment as recommended by their doctor.