Definition of Tubal ligation:

Tubal ligation (or "tying the tubes") is surgery to close a woman's fallopian tubes. These tubes connect the ovaries to the uterus. A woman who has this surgery can no longer get pregnant (sterile).

Description:

Tubal ligation is done in a hospital or outpatient clinic.

• You may receive general anesthesia. You will be asleep and unable to feel pain.
• Or, you may have local anesthesia (awake and unable to feel pain) or spinal anesthesia (awake but unable to feel pain). You will likely also receive medicine to make you sleepy.

The procedure takes about 30 minutes.

• Your surgeon will make one or two small surgical cuts in your belly, usually around the belly button. Gas may be pumped into your belly to expand it. This helps your surgeon see your uterus and fallopian tubes.
• Your surgeon will insert a a narrow tube with a tiny camera on the end (laparoscope) into your belly. Instruments to block off your tubes will be inserted through the laparoscope or through a separate, very small cut.
• The tubes are either burned shut (cauterized) or clamped off with a small clip or ring (band).

Tubal ligation can also be done right after you have a baby through a small cut in the navel or during a cesarean section.

Another sterilization method involves going through the cervix and placing coils or plugs in the tubes where they connect with the uterus (hysteroscopic tubal occlusion procedure). This technique does not involve cuts in the abdomen.

Why the Procedure Is Performed:

Tubal ligation may be recommended for adult women who know for sure they do not want to get pregnant in the future.

Even though many women choose to have tubal ligation, some are sorry later that they did. The younger the woman is, the more likely she will regret having her tubes tied as she gets older.

Tubal ligation is considered a permanent form of birth control. It is NOT recommended as a short-term method or one that can be reversed. Even so, major surgery can sometimes reverse it. About 50 to 80 women out of 100 who have their tubal ligation reversed are able to become pregnant. A hysteroscopic tubal occlusion procedure is very hard to reverse.