"Some said romantic relationships fell apart when their partners found out they could not get pregnant again." Coercion is a strong term - if a surgery was performed in this way, that is troubling. Still, it sounds like these women had had multiple births. How many children had they had before tubal ligation was suggested?  Were their children well cared for at home?  In most families, parents have to consider whether they have the maturity and finances to provide security and love for their children. Multiple pregnancies should not be the measure of a 'romantic relationship' because romances tend not to last, and they should never form the only foundation for a pregnancy or series of pregnancies in any society. It's time for our society & governments to be clear about the responsibilities that go into raising children. Parents have to consider how many children they can afford - by extension, how many can governments afford, relying on the tax base? Babies are not mere 'after-glow'.