Tubal Ligation

Women who are looking for a permanent method of birth control may want to consider tubal ligation. Also known as "having your tubes tied," the surgery is a procedure that blocks the fallopian tubes, thus preventing pregnancy. Postpartum tubal ligation is typically performed one to two days after a normal vaginal birth, and laparoscopic tubal ligation is performed on an outpatient basis. According to recent studies, the procedure is over 99 percent effective at preventing future pregnancy.

 

What Is Tubal Ligation?

Tubal ligation is a procedure that prevents future pregnancy by blocking the fallopian tubes. The procedure is sometimes called "having your tubes tied." The formal name is bilateral tubal ligation, or BTL. Bilateral means both sides, and tubal ligation means "blocking" the fallopian tubes so your eggs cannot be fertilized or reach the uterus. This is how BTL prevents pregnancy. Recent studies show that this surgery has a success rate of over 99 percent. It is intended to be a permanent, irreversible form of birth control.
 
There are two types of tubal ligation procedures:
 
 

When Is a Tubal Ligation Performed?

A postpartum tubal ligation is unique in that it occurs after a normal vaginal birth -- usually one to two days after the birth of your child.
 It does not, however, typically change the amount of time spent in the hospital after you give birth. Laparoscopic tubal ligation is usually performed on an outpatient basis, meaning that you go home the day of your laparoscopy.
 
Anesthesia is used to eliminate the pain felt during a procedure. For both types of tubal ligation, the two most common types of anesthesia are spinal and general anesthesia.
 

Tubal Ligation: The Surgery Itself

To learn more about either type of tubal ligation, click on one of the following links:
 
 

Risks of Tubal Ligation

No procedure is ever completely free of risks. However, tubal ligation has been performed for many years with successful results and limited complications. If problems do occur, they may include (but are not limited to):
 
  • Infection
  • Bleeding
  • Allergic skin reactions
  • Blood clots
  • Blood vessel injury
  • Reactions to medication or anesthesia
  • Other rare and unlikely events.
 
Fortunately, major complications from tubal ligation are rare. In fact, tubal ligation is about six times safer than driving a car and two to three times safer than being pregnant.
 
(Click Tubal Ligation Complications for more information on the possible risks of tubal ligation.)
 

Alternatives to Tubal Ligation

Several other alternatives for preventing unwanted pregnancies exist. Although none are as effective as sterilization, they all protect against pregnancy. These include:
 
  • Periodic abstinence, or natural family planning
  • Barrier methods like condoms and diaphragms
  • Hormonal methods such as birth control pills
  • The Depo-Provera® injection
  • Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
  • Vasectomy.

 

The success rate of each method varies.
 

Tubal Ligation: Final Thoughts

Sterilization is an important decision. If you are finished having children, and know for certain that you do not, and will not, desire any future pregnancies, a tubal ligation is a safe and effective means of achieving this goal.
 
Although there is a very slight chance of pregnancy after this procedure, a tubal ligation is a highly effective surgical means of birth control. It is intended to be a permanent, irreversible procedure. As with all surgical procedures, there are possible risks and complications. However, tubal ligation is quite safe, and the failure rate is low.
 
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Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD