For women who are completely sure they are finished having children or those that know they do not want to become pregnant in the future, female sterilization may be a possible option. Female sterilization is a highly effective form of long-term birth control intended to eliminate the risk of unplanned pregnancy without the need for hormone supplements or devices like an IUD (intrauterine device) or implant. For some women, it can be a tremendous relief to be protected from unwanted pregnancy without having to worry about remembering to take a birth control pill every day. For anyone who is curious about how female sterilization is performed, we have taken some time to outline the procedure and the benefits that it can provide.
Tubal ligation, also known as having your “tubes tied”, is the most common form of birth control in the US. During this surgical procedure, the fallopian tubes are either blocked or sealed in an effort to prevent the transportation of eggs to the uterus and block sperm from entering the tubes. The procedure is performed under anesthesia and in many cases, the woman is able to return home within a few hours after her tubal ligation is complete.
Immediately after the procedure is over, we will monitor the woman’s condition to make sure that she is recovering well and that there were no complications. It can take between two and five days to fully recover from tubal ligation surgery. A follow-up appointment two weeks following this surgery is customary.
In addition to be extremely effective (as high as 99%), tubal ligation is safe for almost all women. Some women prefer female sterilization to other birth control methods like birth control pills, implants, IUDs (intrauterine device) since the procedure will not affect their hormones, menstrual cycle, or sexual drive.
It’s important to remember that opting for a sterilization procedure is a very serious decision that cannot be made lightly. If a woman thinks there is any chance at all that she may still want to become pregnant in the future and prefer to keep her options open, we offer other forms of long-acting birth control that may be a more appropriate choice. For more information on female sterilization or to request an appointment with one of our gynecological healthcare providers today, please contact Gynecology Associates of Gwinnett. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter for additional tips, news, and details on our upcoming health and wellness events like our bi-weekly boot camps.
