Tubal Ligation: What you should know?

What is tubal ligation?

Tubal ligation is a surgical method performed on the female partner after family completion. It is other ways called as tubectomy or tubal sterilization. It is also informally known as ‘having your tubes tied.’ It completely prevents pregnancy forever as well as helps you to avoid certain types of ovarian cancers. However, it should be performed only when you are sure that you do not want to bear a child again.

What happens during tubal ligation?

Tubal ligation is a surgical sterilization for women, in which the fallopian tubes are cut or blocked permanently in order to prevent the female egg from reaching to the uterus and thereby cancelling the chance of fertilization. It can be done as a separate surgery after family completion or during a C section.
As you know fallopian tube is a tubular structure which is around 10 cm in length. It is also called as the uterine tube. The matured egg released from the ovaries will travel through the fallopian tube to the uterus and gets fertilised with the penetrating sperm. During the tubal ligation procedure, the doctor will cut, block, seal or ligate the tube and thereby closes the passage of the eggs to reach to the uterus. There is no chance of fertilisation; hence possibility of pregnancy will be closed forever.

How is tubal ligation done?

Tubal ligation can be done in a laparoscopic surgery or along with laparatomy for treatment of other illness like pelvic inflammatory disease, ovarian tumours, endometriosis, etc. It is also done soon after childbirth which is then called as post-partum tubal ligation. The procedure is done under local anaesthesia or spinal anaesthesia as required.
The laparoscopic procedure is a safe method with comparatively less complications. In laparoscopic surgery, the surgeon will do two small incisions, one near to the navel and another close to the pubic hairline. Then a laparoscopy or a thin viewing tube is inserted to view the abdomen through the navel incision. There are different ways of blocking the fallopian tube and your doctor will suggest the appropriate one for you. A device will be inserted through the other incision to seal, cut, band, clip or block the passage in the fallopian tube. Also electric current is used to create clotting and thereby prevent the tube.
Mostly women prefer to do it during vaginal childbirth or during a C section. If it is during childbirth, the doctor will do a small incision close to the navel and block the fallopian tube as it will be easy given to the enlarged uterus after pregnancy. If it is a C section surgery, the doctor will use the same incision to perform the tubal ligation procedure.

Is tubal ligation reversible?

Tubal ligation is considered as a surgical measure as the chances of becoming pregnant after the procedure is low. It can be reversed through another complicated surgical procedure but it has been proven successful in rare cases.