Birth Control Method: Tubal Ligation

Birth control can be one of the issues that occupy a big -if not huge- part of women’s mind, especially if they’ve just given birth or do not want to get pregnant again. Hearing of cases that got pregnant while using birth control pills or having an IUD installed might be scarier than SAW II for women. While there’s no 100% effective birth control method, women who aren’t willing to have more children might consider an unusual birth control method. Here’s what you need to know about tubal ligation.

What is tubal ligation?

Via: Shutterstock – Tubal ligation

Tubal ligation or tubal sterilization means getting a woman’s fallopian tubes tied, blocked, or cut to prevent the woman from getting pregnant for good. This procedure prevents the eggs from traveling through the fallopian tubes, and it also prevents the sperms from reaching the egg. However, it doesn’t have an impact on menstruation, and women experience monthly bleeding regularly. Tubal ligation is an effective procedure, however, it is a permanent birth control method.

Is tubal ligation reversible?

Via: Mayo Clinic – Tubal ligation

One might think that this is a great option, not having to worry about the placement of an IUD or that terrifying moment when you forget a single pill, but what if I changed my mind and wanted more children later? Here’s the thing, not all cases of tubal ligation are reversible. According to WebMD, there’s a possibility that some tubal ligation cases be reversed, however, tubal ligation reversal is a major surgery that requires an extended recovery period.

The possibility of undoing the tubal ligation depends on the method of ligation, how long ago it was done, and the amount of damage that occurred to the fallopian tubes.

According to both WebMD and Mayo Clinic, even if you successfully conceive after your tubal ligation was undone, you’re more likely to have an ectopic pregnancy, which means the growth of the fertilized egg outside the uterus, typically in the fallopian tube.

Before having your fallopian tubes tied you should consider…

Via: Natural Paleo Family – Tubal ligation

• Are you sure that you don’t want more children? Making the decision of opting for a permanent birth control method isn’t an easy one. Before making such a major decision you need to be aware that having a child afterward might be a rare possibility.

• The risks of tubal ligation operation such as damage to the bowel, bladder, or major blood vessels, infection, and/or persistent pelvic or abdominal pain.

• Tubal ligation isn’t for everyone. There’s a percentage of failure of the procedure, which would result in pregnancy. However, that percentage is very small. Less than 1% out of every 100 women who had undergone the procedure will get pregnant during the first year after having the procedure done.

• If you’ve already had your tubes tied and had an unsuccessful reversal procedure, you can still opt for in-vitro-fertilization (IVF) to help you get pregnant successfully.

Further reading: Missing Your period Doesn’t Mean You Are Pregnant