Tubal ligation , often referred to as "having your tubes tied," is a surgical procedure in which a woman's fallopian tubes are blocked, tied, or cut. Tubal implants , such as Essure, are small metal springs that are placed in each fallopian tube in a nonsurgical procedure no cutting is involved. Over time, scar tissue grows around each implant and permanently blocks the tubes. Either procedure stops eggs from traveling from the ovaries into the fallopian tubes, where the egg is normally fertilized by a sperm.
Tubal ligation and tubal implants are considered to be permanent methods of birth control for women. They are usually done by a gynecologist. They may also be done by a family medicine doctor or a general surgeon. There are several different ways of closing the fallopian tubes, including clipping or banding them shut or cutting and stitching or burning them closed. Your surgeon will probably prefer one of these tubal ligation methods.
An open tubal ligation laparotomy is done through a larger incision in the abdomen. It may be recommended if you need abdominal surgery for other reasons such as a cesarean section or have had pelvic inflammatory disease PID , endometriosis , or previous abdominal or pelvic surgery.
These conditions often cause scarring or sticking together adhesion of tissue and organs in the abdomen. Scarring or adhesions can make one of the other types of tubal ligation more difficult and risky.
Laparoscopy is usually done with a general anesthetic. Laparotomy or mini-laparotomy can be done using general anesthesia or a regional anesthetic , also known as an epidural. Reversing a tubal ligation is possible, but it isn't highly successful. This is why tubal ligation is considered a permanent method of birth control. Implants, such as Essure, are inserted in the fallopian tubes without surgery or general anesthesia. The procedure is done in a doctor's office, an outpatient surgery center, or a hospital, and it doesn't require an overnight stay.
The implant procedure itself takes about 10 minutes. After the procedure, an X-ray is taken to make sure the implants are in place and the tubes are closed. In some cases, a tubal implant can be difficult to insert. Should this happen, a second procedure is needed to completely block both tubes. For the first 3 months after insertion, you must use another method of birth control. At 3 months, dye is injected into your uterus and an X-ray is taken hysterosalpingography to make sure that the implants are in place and the tubes are fully blocked by scar tissue.
If they are, you will no longer have to use another method of birth control. Tubal ligation and tubal implants are permanent methods of birth control and allow you to be sexually active without worrying about becoming pregnant.
Although tubal ligation and tubal implants are expensive, it is a one-time cost. These procedures are usually covered by medical insurance, and there are no costs after the surgery is done. The cost of other birth control methods, such as pills or condoms and spermicide, may be greater over time. Tubal ligation and tubal implants do not protect against sexually transmitted infections STIs , including infection with the human immunodeficiency virus HIV.
To help protect yourself and your partner from possible STIs, use a condom every time you have sex. After a tubal ligation, you will most likely go home the same day. Your surgeon will give you instructions on what to expect and when to call after the surgery. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled.
Please turn on JavaScript and try again. Important Phone Numbers. Topic Contents Your Recovery How can you care for yourself at home? When should you call for help? Where can you learn more? Top of the page. Your Recovery Tubal ligation is a surgery done to close your fallopian tubes and prevent pregnancy. How can you care for yourself at home? Rest when you feel tired. Be active. Walking is a good choice. Allow your body to heal. Don't move quickly or lift anything heavy until you are feeling better.
You may shower. Pat the incision dry. Don't swim or take a bath for the first 2 weeks, or until your doctor tells you it is okay.
For laparoscopic surgery, you will probably need to take 2 to 7 days off work. For mini-laparotomy, you will probably need to take 1 to 2 weeks off work. It depends on the type of work you do and how you feel.
Ask your doctor when it is okay for you to have sex. You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
Women in their 20s appear to be at a higher risk for PTLS than women who have tubal ligations in their 30s and 40s. Many women may worry about side effects after tubal ligation. Generally, these are rare or have been shown to be related to issues other than the surgery. Pregnancy, or failure of the tubal ligation, is one potential unwanted side effect of the procedure. Women who have had their tubes tied are slightly more likely to have ectopic, or tubal, pregnancies than other women.
The U. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies show approximately one in women will experience pregnancy after having their tubes tied. Of these, less than seven out of 1, of the pregnancies will be ectopic, but that number is still higher than the rate of ectopic pregnancies among non-sterilized women. Research conducted over an eight to year period by the U. Collaborative Review of Sterilization and published in showed pregnancy happened in only of the 10, 1.
Women who were under age 30 when they had the procedure had a higher failure rate. Post-Tubal Ligation Syndrome PTLS is a cluster of symptoms reported which include heavy or missing menstrual periods , hormonal problems, or problems that may mimic menopause.
Its existence remains controversial among doctors and researchers. Some doctors feel that a loss of blood flow to the severed fallopian tubes is to blame, while others suggest women who were using birth control pills prior to surgery may be more likely to experience PTLS.
They experience symptoms from stopping the contraception, rather than the result of the surgical procedure. Stephen L. Corson, professor at Thomas Jefferson University and Women's Institute in Philadelphia, conducted a study comparing hormone levels in women who had tubal ligations versus those who had not had the surgery. He found no significant differences in the hormone levels of the groups, indicating no damage to the ovaries from tubal ligation surgery.
Another side effect that may concern women is the reported connection between tubal ligation and the risk of future hysterectomy. Clinical studies published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology show a statistically small increase in hysterectomies in sterilized women in the U.
American Family Physician points out that hysterectomy rates are higher in the U. Women considering tubal ligation may worry about increasing their risk for ovarian cancer or breast cancer , or an increased risk for other diseases. Check with your health care provider to see if you need a follow-up appointment. If you have any concerns that you aren't healing properly, call your doctor. Call your health care provider immediately if you have:.
Tubal ligation is a safe and effective form of permanent birth control. But it doesn't work for everyone. Fewer than 1 out of women will get pregnant in the first year after the procedure. The younger you are at the time it's done, the more likely it is to fail. If you do conceive after having a tubal ligation, there's a risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. This means the fertilized egg implants outside the uterus, usually in a fallopian tube.
An ectopic pregnancy requires immediate medical treatment. The pregnancy cannot continue to birth. If you think you're pregnant at any time after a tubal ligation, contact your health care provider immediately. Keep in mind that although tubal ligation reversal is possible, the reversal procedure is complicated and may not work.
Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version. Overview Tubal ligation Open pop-up dialog box Close. Tubal ligation In a tubal ligation, the fallopian tubes are cut or blocked to disrupt the path normally taken by eggs from the ovaries.
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