Is your family complete? If you know you don’t want to get pregnant in the future, the tubal sterilization procedure at Capital Women’s Care might be right for you. Women in and around Leesburg and Sterling, Virginia and surrounding areas, can find an expert team of women’s wellness physicians and a full range of services for reproductive health concerns. Schedule your appointment today and take control of your future.
Tubal Ligation Q&A
What is tubal ligation?
Tubal ligation, often referred to as having your tubes tied, is a way for women to achieve permanent sterilization.
The procedure involves cutting or blocking the fallopian tubes so sperm cannot reach an egg. While tubal ligation won’t affect your regular menstrual cycle, it will prevent you from getting pregnant if you have unprotected sex.
What is the procedure like?
Capital Women’s Care offers an in-office tubal sterilization procedure called Essure®. With this method, a flexible coil insert is placed inside each fallopian tube to cause a blockage to prevent sperm from reaching an egg. It is done under IV sedation as a same-day office surgical procedure. The Essure procedure is a permanent form of birth control that mimics the results of traditional tubal ligation.
In a traditional tubal ligation procedure, you are given a general anesthetic in the hospital or sometimes a spinal or epidural. Your physician makes an incision in your navel to access your fallopian tubes. She then uses special instruments to seal or block the fallopian tubes with tight silicone rings, clips or electrocautery
You’ll be able to go home the same day of your procedure. While your physician might advise you to avoid heavy lifting or sexual intercourse for a few weeks, you’ll be back to your normal activities quickly, and pain is usually brief and manageable with medication.
Is tubal sterilization the right choice for me?
It’s important to understand that tubal ligation is permanent, so you should not consider this procedure unless you know for sure that you do not plan to have children in the future.
The procedure is safe for most women, provided they’re in good health, both physically and mentally.
Sterilization may not be the right choice for you if you’re experiencing pressure from your partner or if you think there’s a chance you might want children in the future.
It’s possible to have reversal surgery after tubal sterilization, but the surgery is much more invasive and the results aren’t always effective. We therefore want you to be very certain about your decision and consider it permanent.
What are the risks?
Risks tend to be rare, as tubal ligation is a very standard procedure, but some rare but inherent dangers are:
- Bowel, nerve, or blood vessel damage
- Negative reaction to anesthesia
- Infection or poor wound healing
- Pelvic pain or abdominal cramping
- Failure of the procedure (less than 1%) and ectopic pregnancy
Your physician will make sure you’re a good candidate for the procedure and that your recovery is both safe and effective.
To schedule your tubal sterilization consultation, book an appointment with Capital Women’s Care today.