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Tubal ligations are practiced on Puerto Rican women to refine this sterilization method.

1937

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Tubal ligation (colloquially known as "getting your tubes tied") is an invasive surgical procedure where fallopian tubes are cut, tied, and permanently blocked.

The fallopian tube is the site of sperm and egg fertilization before it implants in the uterine wall. The procedure is refined by surgeons on Puerto Rican women before marketing it within the U.S. It is widely made available at a very low cost to Puerto Rican women to promote the procedure, while in comparison, abortion will remain illegal in Puerto Rico until 1973.