Tubal Ligation in New York

Tubal ligation is a procedure in which the fallopian tubes are sealed off in order to prevent pregnancy. Once the fallopian tubes are sealed, the sperm and egg cannot meet, and pregnancy does not occur.

Many women find tubal ligation to be an attractive method of contraception. If you are considering tubal ligation, you should understand that the procedure is meant to produce permanent results: While it is possible nowadays to achieve pregnancy after being sterilized by tubal ligation, it is not easy to do so. Achieving a pregnancy after tubal ligation requires either another operation (to re-connect the tubes) or in vitro fertilization, a highly specialized and expensive technique in which sperm and egg are allowed to meet outside the body, in a laboratory setting. If you're considering tubal ligation, make sure you are comfortable with this permanent decision. Although your spouse does not legally have to consent to the procedure, it's generally preferable to make sure both members of a couple agree before proceeding.

As experts in obstetrics and gynecology, we perform most tubal ligations by laparoscopy, a minor surgical procedure in which a telescope is inserted through your navel under general anesthesia. The resulting incision is tiny (about ½ inch long) and is usually well hidden in the belly button. The procedure generally takes just a few minutes to perform, either in a hospital or in a surgicenter. After a short recovery, patients can return home on the day of surgery. Most patients can be back at work within a few days.

Tubal ligation is an extremely reliable method of contraception, but rare failures have been reported. About one in 300 women who ties her tubes will become pregnant at some point later in her life. This makes tubal ligation much more reliable than birth control pills, the patch, condoms, and diaphragms. If a woman suspects she is pregnant after a tubal ligation, it is imperative that she seek out gynecological attention immediately, as the pregnancy may be growing within one of the fallopian tubes.

Tubal ligation is very safe, but as with any medical intervention, complications can rarely occur. Patients may report pain that lasts for a few days, requiring prescription pain medication. Bleeding and infection are not common, but can occur as with any surgical procedure. Rarely, organs may be injured at the time of the procedure, including the uterus, the bowel, or the bladder. This is a very uncommon complication, but it is potentially serious, especially if injury is not recognized at the time of the procedure.

Overall, most patients are very satisfied with the results of their tubal ligation. They enjoy intimacy without awkward preparations for contraception. They do not have to worry about the risk of exposure to hormones contained in the pill, patch, and contraceptive injections. The procedure is not expected to change a woman's mood, her menstrual cycle, or her sexual response — except that some women report more satisfying sexual relations once their fear of pregnancy is removed.

For the right patients, tubal ligation is a sensible, permanent method to prevent pregnancy. If you think that tubal ligation is right for you, we invite you to consult with us at The Woman's Health Pavilion.