This is a surgery to close a woman's fallopian tubes. A fallopian tube runs from the ovary (where the eggs develop) to the uterus (womb). Closing this tube makes it so that a woman cannot get pregnant.
Tubal ligation is done if you do not want to become pregnant. If you have this surgery, you will still ovulate and menstruate. The cut or blocked tubes keep the egg and sperm from meeting. When the egg and sperm cannot meet, fertilization does not happen and pregnancy cannot occur.
This surgery is not recommended as a temporary or reversible procedure. Make sure you consider all the birth control options for you and your partner.
Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If you are planning to have tubal ligation, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:
Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:
Be sure to discuss these risks with your doctor before the procedure.
Your doctor may do the following:
Leading up to your procedure:
You may receive one of the following:
The doctor will make a small cut in the area of the navel. Through this cut, she will inject a harmless gas into your abdomen. The gas will inflate the abdominal cavity. This will make it easier for the doctor to see the internal organs. The doctor will then insert a long, thin tool (called a laparoscope). This tool will contain a small camera and lighting system which let the doctor see inside the abdomen. The doctor may make a second cut just above the pubic hair to insert a tool for grasping the fallopian tubes. The tubes will be closed by one of the following ways:
The tools will then be removed and the openings will be closed with stitches.
In some cases, the doctor may switch to an open surgery . She will either make a small cut just above the pubic hair or below the navel, or a 2-5–inch cut in the abdomen to do the surgery.
You will be brought into the recovery room. You will rest there until the anesthesia wears off.
20-30 minutes
You may have some pain during recovery. Ask your doctor about pain medicine. Also, since your abdomen will be injected with gas, you may feel bloated and have pain in your shoulder or chest after the surgery. This may last up to three days. Walking, using a heating pad, or taking a warm shower can help to decrease discomfort.
You can usually go home the same day as the surgery. Your doctor may choose to keep you longer if complications arise.
When you return home, do the following to help ensure a smooth recovery:
You should be able to return to work in 1-7 days. Your menstrual cycle will resume in 4-6 weeks. Sterilization success rates are greater than 99% during the first year. Tubes may later grow together, increasing pregnancy risk.
After arriving home, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:
In case of an emergency, CALL 911 .
RESOURCES:
The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/
Planned Parenthood
http://www.plannedparenthood.org/
Women's Health.gov
http://www.womenshealth.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES:
Canadian Women's Health Network
http://www.cwhn.ca/en/
The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
http://www.sogc.org/
References:
Engender Health website. Available at: http://www.engenderhealth.org/ . Accessed July 10, 2008.
Peterson HB. Sterilization [abstract]. Obstet Gynecol . 2008;111:189-203.
Sterilization surgery—making a decision. National Library of Medicine, Medline Plus website. Available at: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/002138.htm . Accessed July 10, 2008.
Tubal ligation. Planned Parenthood website. Available at: http://www.plannedparenthood.org/BIRTH-CONTROL/allabouttubal.htm . Accessed July 10, 2008.
Last reviewed October 2009 by Ganson Purcell Jr., MD, FACOG, FACPE
Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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