Impact of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization on Female Sterilization Rates at a Texas Military Medical Center, a Retrospective Cohort Study.

This article examines the impact of the June 24, 2022, U.S. Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned federal abortion protections, on female sterilization rates at military treatment facilities (MTFs) in Texas and Washington states. The study found a significant increase in female sterilization procedures at a Texas MTF, located in a state with restrictive abortion laws, rising from 10.4% pre-Dobbs to 17.5% post-Dobbs, while rates at a Washington MTF, in a state with protective abortion laws, remained unchanged. Post-Dobbs patients at the Texas facility were younger and less likely to have used barrier contraception prior to sterilization. The findings suggest that limited abortion access may influence contraceptive choices toward permanent methods with higher surgical risks and potential for regret, despite universal healthcare coverage for military beneficiaries.