Other Methods Of Birth Control
Up to 20% of women who have tubal ligation eventually wish they hadn’t, so itâs important to think about all the possibilities. Women younger than 30 are more likely to change their minds later.
If youâre not sure, you might think about these long-term options for birth control:
Vasectomy. If youâre in a committed relationship, your husband or partner might be willing to get this procedure that keeps sperm from getting into his semen. Itâs a safer procedure than a tubal ligation, and it can be done while he’s awake.
IUD. Your doctor puts this small T-shaped plastic device into your uterus. It can stay in place anywhere from 3 to 10 years. IUDs are more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy.
Implant. Your doctor puts a plastic rod about the size of a matchstick under the skin of your upper arm. It releases the hormone progestin and can stay in place for up to 3 years.
Johns Hopkins Medicine: âTubal Ligation.â
Mayo Clinic: âTubal Ligation,â âTubal Ligation Decreases Risk of Developing Ovarian Cancer.â
University of Florida Health: âTubal Ligation,â âBirth Control Pills — An Overview,â âDeciding About an IUD.â
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists: âPostpartum Sterilization,â âSterilization for Women and Men,â âEctopic Pregnancy,â âSterilization by Laparoscopy,â âLong-Acting Reversible Contraception: Intrauterine Device and Implant.â
Hillis, S.D. Obstetrics and Gynecology, December 1999.
What Happens During Endometrial Ablation
An endometrial ablation may be done in the office or in the operating room. Youll be given a gown and an IV. Youll situate yourself on a table as if youre having a pelvic exam. You may be given medicine about an hour before the endometrial ablation to help manage any discomfort after the procedure. Depending on the type of endometrial ablation, your provider may numb your pelvic area and give you sedatives so that you dont feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure.
During endometrial ablation, your healthcare provider inserts a delicate, wand-like device into your vagina. This device extends through your cervix and into your uterus, where it can reach the lining. Depending on the type of endometrial ablation, the device sends energy, heat or cold to destroy part of the lining. The technology makes things quick and you should have minimal or no discomfort during the procedure.
Why Might I Need A Tubal Ligation
Choosing this form of birth control may be a good choice if:
- You are an adult woman
- You are in a stable relationship in which both partners have agreed to permanent birth control
- Pregnancy would be a health risk for you
- You or your partner has a genetic disorder that you don’t want to pass on to a child
This form of birth control may not be the best choice for you if you are unsure if you will want to become pregnant in the future. It also may not be a good choice if you may have other partners in the future. Having a new partner might make you reconsider getting pregnant.
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When Should I Contact My Physician After Sterilization By Laparoscopy
Contact your physician immediately if you experience any of the following:
- Persistent nausea and vomiting for more than 24 hours.
- Temperature over 100 degrees Fahrenheit for more than 24 hours.
- Redness, swelling, drainage or bleeding around the incision.
- After the first day of surgery:
- Heavy bleeding with clots
What Happens After A Tubal Ligation
After your surgery, you will be taken to the recovery room to be watched while you recover from the anesthesia. Your IV will be removed once you can drink fluids. You will probably be able to go home in a few hours.
Here is what you can probably expect at home:
- You will be able to gradually resume your normal diet.
- Some discomfort is normal. Ask your surgeon what medicines to take for pain.
- You may have shoulder pain for a few days. This is from the gas that was pumped into your belly. Lying down for a while often relieves this pain.
- Keep your incision areas dry for a few days. Follow your surgeon’s instructions on bathing and dressing care. You may need to go back to have your stitches removed. Keep all your follow-up appointments.
- Gradually resume normal activities in a few days.
- Avoid heavy lifting for a few weeks. Ask your surgeon when you can return to specific activities.
- You may be able to return to sexual activity in about 1 week.
Tell your surgeon about any of the following:
- Increasing pain or pain that is not relieved by medicine
- Any drainage, bleeding, redness, or swelling
- Fever
Before you agree to the test or the procedure make sure you know:
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Questions To Ask Your Doctor
- Does permanent birth control offer the best choice for me?
- Are there other forms of permanent birth control?
- What if I want to reverse the procedure later on?
- When is the best time for me to have the procedure done?
- What are the risks involved with the procedure?
- Could I get pregnant after having a tubal sterilization?
- Does the procedure increase the risk of ovarian cancer?
What Should I Expect After The Procedure
Recovering at home:
- Don’t drink alcohol or drive for at least 24 hours after surgery.
- You can shower any time after surgery. You can take a tub bath or swim beginning two weeks after surgery.
- You may remove the bandage the morning after the surgery. Steri-strips, which resemble tape, can be removed two to three days after surgery.
- Patients can return to work three days after surgery.
Discomforts
- Your abdomen may be swollen for several days after the surgery. Tylenol® may be taken to relieve pain.
- You may have a sore throat for a few days. Try using a throat lozenge.
- You may have mild nausea. Try eating a light evening meal the day of surgery. Tea, soup, toast, gelatin or crackers may help relieve nausea.
- Gas in the abdomen may cause discomfort in the neck, shoulders, and chest for 24 to 72 hours after surgery. Try taking a warm shower, using a heating pad or walking.
Vaginal bleeding and menstruation
Vaginal bleeding up to one month after surgery is normal. Many women do not have their next normal menstrual cycle for four to six weeks after surgery. When your normal cycle returns, you may notice heavier bleeding and more discomfort than usual for the first two to three cycles.
Sexual activity
You can resume sexual activity one week after surgery.
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What Should I Expect After The Laparoscopic Surgery
You may have symptoms after the laparoscopic surgery including:
- Dizziness
- Cramps
- Bloated or gassy feeling
After your laparoscopic procedure, you will stay in the recovery room until you are wide awake and able to eat and drink light foods such as crackers and ginger ale. Most individuals go home within 2-4 hours on the same day. Youll need someone to bring you to the hospital and take you home. Some women may have mild discomfort for a few days. If any of the symptoms below last longer than a couple of days, call your health care provider. Most individuals can go back to school or work within 1 week of having the procedure, but everyone is different so be sure to listen to what your health care provider tells you.
Whos A Good Candidate
Youre a good candidate for tubal ligation if youre confident that you dont ever want to conceive, whatever the reason.
If pregnancy would put your health in jeopardy, or if you have a genetic disorder that you dont want to pass on, tubal ligation may help alleviate your concerns.
Tubal ligation is considered a permanent form of birth control. Youre not a good candidate if youre uncertain about having more children or you feel pressured to have the procedure.
Once youve made the decision to have a tubal ligation, your doctor will perform a pelvic exam and assess your health.
There are a few ways to approach the procedure, which your doctor will explain.
The surgery requires anesthesia, so be sure to mention any medications and supplements you take. Include over-the-counter and prescription medications. You may have to stop taking them at some point before surgery.
Ask your doctor if you should temporarily use a backup method of birth control after surgery. Its also important to make your surgeon aware of any health conditions you have.
Youll be instructed when to stop eating and drinking prior to surgery. Usually, its after midnight the night before. Continue to use birth control right up until surgery.
Plan to wear something loose, comfortable, and easy to slip on and off for surgery day. You wont be able to drive following the procedure, so arrange for someone to drive you.
Because you wont need birth control anymore, tubal ligation is a one-time expense.
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Things You Need To Know About Getting Your Tubes Tied
Maybe you already have the precise number of kids you always wanted, or perhaps you’ve decided not to have children at all. If you’re confident that making babies is not in your future, sterilization may have crossed your mind. Of the ways to permanently end your childbearing years, getting your tubes tied is the most popular: 27% of American women using contraception opt for it.
And yet, the procedure is not always well understood. Even many women who’ve had it done seem to be confused about what actually happens and what it means for their reproduction abilities going forward. Here are 10 important facts you need to know.
1. It’s a major misnomer.
You’ll never hear an expert use the phrase “getting your tubes tied” because there’s not much tying going on. The more accurate way to describe this procedure is “tubal sterilization” or “tubal ligation,” and there are several ways it can be done. Instead of tying your fallopian tubes up in a neat bow, your doctor will clip, suture, or otherwise close them off in order to prevent sperm from getting through. Part or all of the tubes might be cut and removed. To access your fallopian tubes, your surgeon will make a 2- to 3-centimeter incision under the belly button. Or the procedure can be done laparoscopically through a few miniscule incisions.
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4. You need to do some homework.
5. It’s easiest right after a C-section.
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What Are The Risks Of A Tubal Ligation
Tubal ligation is safe, but all surgeries carry some risks. Serious problems occur in less than 1 out of 1,000 women. You will need to sign a consent form that explains the risks and benefits of the surgery and you should discuss these risks and benefits with your surgeon. Some potential risks include:
- Bleeding from an incision or inside the abdomen
- Infection
- Lung disease
- Overweight
You may have other risks, depending on your specific health condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider before the procedure.
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Risks And Complications Of Tubal Sterilisation
Possible risks and complications from the tubal sterilisation operation include:
- an allergic reaction to the anaesthetic
- damage to nearby organs, such as the bowel or ureters
- infection, inflammation and ongoing pain
- haemorrhage
- infection of the wound or one of the fallopian tubes.
Longer-term possible risks and complications of tubal sterilisation include:
- pregnancy
- ectopic pregnancy, where a pregnancy develops outside the womb rather than in the uterus .
Am I Ready For Sterilization
A woman should carefully weigh her decision to undergo sterilization by laparoscopy. Though this procedure has been successfully reversed in some women, the procedure is intended to produce permanent loss of fertility.
Women who are unsure if they still want children should choose a reversible form of contraception, such as birth control pills, an intrauterine device , or a barrier method . Discuss these alternatives with your physician.
Your partner may also consider having a vasectomy, a method of male sterilization that involves severing and tying the vas deferens, a tube that transports sperm.
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What Happens After Endometrial Ablation
Have a friend or family member drive you home. Pay close attention to your body. Youll probably notice some changes after youve had the endometrial ablation. Theyre normal, so theres no need to worry.
- You may feel a little nauseous.
- You may have to pee more the first day after the procedure.
- You may have period-like cramps for one to three days after an endometrial ablation.
- You may have light bleeding or pink discharge for a few weeks after. Its usually heaviest on Day 2 and Day 3 after youve had the procedure. Youre bleeding the uterus lining that was destroyed so that you dont have a heavy period later.
Give yourself time to heal. Dont douche or use a tampon the first 3 days after youve had the procedure.
It Doesn’t Affect Your Hormones
Making any permanent changes to your “baby-making” parts may cause a bit of concern regarding how it will affect things such as your periods, ovulation, and hormones.
While tubal sterilization surgeries have been said, but not proven, to increase the pain and flow of blood during a period, as well as the cramping caused by ovulation, this surgery will NOT have an effect on your hormones! Also, despite the possibility of issues associated with post-tubal ligation syndrome, there is a good chance that, while you may face other issues after the surgery, you will most likely not experience any fluctuations in your hormones!
This is great news because, let’s be honest, mood swings associated with an approaching period are difficult enough to deal with on a monthly basis, so it is a relief to know that your lovely hormones will stay relatively calm and not be fazed by your tubal ligation surgery!
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What Are The Types Of Sterilization
There are a few different types of tubal sterilization procedures:
-
Tubal ligation is a surgical procedure that permanently closes, cuts, or removes pieces of your fallopian tubes.
-
Bilateral salpingectomy is a surgical procedure that removes your fallopian tubes entirely.
-
Essure sterilization is a tiny coil that a doctor puts in your fallopian tubes to block them it used to be a common form of sterilization, but Essure is no longer available in the U.S.
Is Sterilization Right For Me
Sterilization is permanent you should only get sterilized if youre totally sure you dont want to be able to get pregnant for the rest of your life.
Sterilization may not be a good choice for you if:
-
Theres any chance youll want to get pregnant in the future.
-
Youre being pressured by your partner, friends, or family.
-
You hope sterilization will solve problems that may be temporary like marriage or sexual issues, short-term mental or physical illnesses, or money problems.
Its safe for most people to get sterilized. Your doctor will talk with you about your health and life to help you decide if sterilization is right for you.
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