An overview of tubal ligation
Tubal ligation is female sterilization. It is more commonly known as 'having the tubes tied'. It is a method of permanent birth control. During the surgery, the fallopian tubes are blocked by tying them or attaching a clip or ring to prevent sperm from reaching the ovum (egg). Therefore, a woman cannot get pregnant.
If your doctor thinks that this method of birth control is safe for you, he or she will set a date for the procedure. Depending on the circumstances of the surgery and the state of your overall health, you will be asked to adhere to some instructions prior to the procedure. Some doctors ask their patients to have a colon cleanse a few days before. Other instructions are to drink lots of water, not to eat dinner the night before, and to stop smoking three weeks before the surgery. Smoking can prolong the recovery time.
On the day of your tubal ligation, the doctor will administer general anesthesia or use a localized freezing agent. An instrument called a speculum is placed into the vagina. Then another instrument is placed at the end of the cervix. This enables the doctor to view the entire pelvic structure clearly through a laparoscope. An incision is made near the navel. Through this, a trocar is inserted into the stomach. A trocar is a tubular device which is used to fill the stomach with carbon dioxide gas. The purpose of this is to improve the doctor’s view through the laparoscope.
In the case of a missed dose, you can take it as soon as you remember. If the next scheduled dose is due at the same time, you may take two tablets. If you miss more than one dose, you must contact your pharmacist or doctor.
When you regain consciousness, you will probably feel very tired, bloated, nauseous, dizzy, and have mild abdominal cramps and pain, as well as a sore throat. The sore throat is a result of the anesthesia. For 24 hours after the surgery, you must not do anything strenuous and you must not drive. You can expect these symptoms to persist for about six days. After this period, recovery is quick and you will soon be able to resume your normal life.
Recovery time depends on each woman. Some factors include the level of pain tolerance, the body’s ability to heal itself, and the type of anesthetic that was administered. The wound at the incision site may be sore while it is healing. Also, there may be minor changes in bowel movements. In the late afternoons and early evenings, you may feel very tired but this will pass.
Discomfort and pain is usually effectively relieved with painkillers. Tubal ligation has no effect on the menstrual cycle so your periods will continue. Neither will it cause any hormonal imbalances. Statistics show that tubal ligation has a success rate of 99.20 percent in preventing unwanted pregnancies. This translates to a failure rate of only 2 in every 1000 surgeries.
