Tubal Ligation

Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure for women that's intended to prevent pregnancy. A doctor severs and seals the woman's fallopian tubes, stopping the egg from traveling to the uterus from the ovary. It also makes it impossible for sperm to enter the fallopian tubes which means the women cannot become pregnant.

"Having your tubes tied" is a common expression for tubal ligation.

Tubal ligation is a popular option for women who have decided not to have more children. Research shows it's effective approximately 99.5 percent of the time. 

However, the tubes have a healing power and sometimes manage to reconnect, accounting for the .5 percent chance of fertilization.

Tubal ligation is usually performed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. It can be done using a laparoscope, which is a tube-like telescopic surgical instrument. The doctor fills the abdomen with carbon dioxide, which helps separate the uterus from the fallopian tubes and also gives the doctor some room to maneuver the laparoscope.

The doctor makes a small incision above the naval and inserts the instrument. He or she will then make a second incision around the pubic hairline for the entry point of the tool being used to cut the tubes.

The whole process takes 30 minutes to an hour if there are no complications.

Recovery usually only takes a few weeks. The woman can resume intimacy in as little as seven days. When the procedure is done vaginally, the woman can be intimate again in about two weeks.

Risks

A woman who has had tubal ligation probably won't get pregnant again. However, an ectopic pregnancy is possible.

Ectopic pregnancy occurs because a fertilized egg attaches to the outside of the uterus and grows there. Pregnancies of this sort require close monitoring and medical attention.

Sometimes a woman will experience abnormal bleeding or a bladder infection after the procedure. It's also possible that hormone production, libido, and the menstrual cycle can be affected.

Some women experience something called post sterilization syndrome, which usually includes irregular and painful periods, mid-cycle bleeding, or no periods.