WomanS Years-Long Pain Linked to Complications From Sterilization, Ignored by Doctors
Amsterdam, Netherlands - A Dutch woman, Taika, is speaking out after a six-month wait for a specialist finally revealed the cause of debilitating menstrual pain: complications stemming from a failed sterilization procedure years prior.Her story highlights the challenges many women face in receiving adequate healthcare and having their pain taken seriously.
Taika underwent sterilization and was fitted with Filshie clips. Shortly after, she began experiencing extremely heavy and painful periods. Initially,medical professionals dismissed her symptoms,attributing them to “being a woman” and offering only paracetamol for relief.
Frustrated by the lack of progress, Taika sought second opinions and actively researched potential causes. She connected with others who had experienced similar issues and, armed with their advice, returned to her doctor demanding a referral to gynecologist Bas Veersema. After insisting, “I want a referral to gynecologist Bas Veersema and I will not leave until you give me that referral,” the referral was finally granted.
Six months later, Veersema examined Taika and immediately acknowledged her request to remove the sterilization clips. “‘Let’s do it,’ Veersema immediately replied,” Taika recalled, overwhelmed with relief after years of being disbelieved. “I burst into hysterical tears and then had to explain all my reasons, as I just couldn’t believe that anyone immediately believed me.”
During the clip removal, Veersema discovered Taika’s uterus was stuck, her cervix closed, and adhered to her bladder and intestines. She was afterward diagnosed with Post Ablation sterilization Syndrome (PATSS) and Hashimoto’s, an autoimmune disease.
“The menstrual cramps were probably so incredibly painful as of those adhesions,” Taika explained. Following the procedure, her inflammation subsided, and her pain disappeared, significantly improving her quality of life. She keeps the removed Filshie clips as a reminder of her ordeal.
Taika is now sharing her story to raise awareness and advocate for better women’s healthcare.”No one deserves to be sent home with paracetamol and ‘this is part of being a woman’,” she stated. “Your pain exists, it is real, and it must be listened to.” She hopes her experience will empower other women to seek answers and be taken seriously by medical professionals.
