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By Mayo Clinic staffBefore you have a tubal ligation your health care provider will likely:
- Review the risks and benefits of reversible and permanent methods of contraception
- Ask about your reasons for choosing sterilization and discuss factors that could lead to regret, such as a young age or marital discord
- Explain the details of the procedure
- Discuss the causes and probability of sterilization failure
- Share information about tubal ligation reversal
- Help you choose the best time to do the procedure, such as shortly after childbirth or in combination with another abdominal surgical procedure, such as a C-section
If you're not having a tubal ligation shortly after childbirth or during a C-section, you should use contraception for at least one month before the procedure and continue using contraception until your next period to decrease the likelihood of pregnancy. Having the procedure done during your period or during the days between your period and ovulation also reduces the chance of pregnancy at the time of the procedure. Your health care provider may give you a sensitive pregnancy test on the day of surgery to make sure you're not pregnant.
References
- Zieman M. Overview of contraception. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- Frequently asked questions: Birth control methods. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/birth-control-methods.pdf. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- Kottke M. Nondaily contraceptive options: User benefits, potential for high continuation and counseling issues. Obstetrical & Gynecological Survey. 2008;63:661.
- Stovall TG, et al. Surgical sterilization of women. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
- Pollack AE, et al. Female and male sterilization. In: Hatcher RA, et al. Contraceptive Technology. 19th ed. New York, N.Y.: Ardent Media, Inc.; 2007:363.
- Kulier R, et al. Minilaparotomy and endoscopic techniques for tubal sterilization. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2004:CD001328.
- Cunningham FG, et al. Williams Obstetrics. 22nd ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.; 2005:1.
- Stubblefield PG, et al. Family planning. In: Berek JS. Berek & Novak's Gynecology. Philadelphia, Pa.: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2007:287.
- FAQs: Sterilization for women and men. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/faq/faq011.cfm. Accessed Sept. 23, 2011.
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