Tubal ligation - Risks
Alternative Names
Sterilization surgery - female; Tubal sterilization; Tube tying; Tying the tubes
Risks:
Risks for any surgery are:
Risks for any anesthesia are:
Risks for tubal ligation are:
- Incomplete closing of the tubes, which could make pregnancy still possible. About 1 out of 200 women who have had tubal ligation get pregnant later.
- Increased risk of a tubal (ectopic) pregnancy if pregnancy occurs after a tubal ligation
- Injury to nearby organs or tissues from surgical instruments
- Reviewed last on: 2/19/2009
- Susan Storck, MD, FACOG, Chief, Eastside Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound, Redmond, Washington; Clinical Teaching Faculty, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Washington School of Medicine. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
References
Mishell DR Jr. Family planning: contraception, sterilization, and pregnancy termination. In: Katz VL, Lentz GM, Lobo RA, Gershenson DM, eds. Comprehensive Gynecology. 5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Mosby Elsevier; 2007:chap 14.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Sterilization by laparoscopy. ACOG Education Pamphlet AP035. February 2003. Accessed February 19, 2009.