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Tubal ligation / sterilisation
Category: Women's Health & Childbirth · All women's health & childbirth
What it is
Female sterilisation blocks or removes the fallopian tubes so eggs cannot meet sperm. Modern practice usually removes the tubes entirely (salpingectomy) or clips/blocks them during keyhole surgery; it is considered permanent.
Why it is done
It is chosen by people who are certain their family is complete and who want a one-off, hormone-free, permanent contraception. Counselling covers permanence, alternatives including long-acting reversible contraception and vasectomy, and regret risk (higher in younger people).
How to prepare
You must not be pregnant; a pregnancy test is done on the day. Sterilisation is often done as a standalone day-case laparoscopy, or during a caesarean. Fasting and anaesthetic assessment apply.
What happens during the procedure
Under general anaesthetic, keyhole instruments place clips on the tubes or remove them; removed tubes are sent for confirmation. It takes about 20 to 40 minutes.
Afterwards — recovery & results
Most people go home the same day and recover within a few days to a week. Contraception must be used until the procedure (and as advised if clips are placed mid-cycle). Periods continue normally; menopause timing is unaffected by tubal surgery.
Risks & considerations
Risks are those of laparoscopy (bleeding, infection, injury to bowel or bladder, conversion to open surgery) plus a small lifetime failure rate — pregnancy can occasionally occur and, if it does, a higher proportion are ectopic, needing urgent assessment. Reversal is unreliable and often unavailable.
Watch: Tubal ligation / sterilisation videos
Real procedure videos from the MedicalVideos.com library. Some clinical footage is graphic — that is the nature of a medical video library.
Related guides on MedicalVideos.com
Frequently asked questions
Is it reversible?
It should be regarded as permanent. Reversal surgery exists but success is not guaranteed and funding is uncommon. IVF is sometimes an alternative.
Why remove the tubes rather than clip them?
Removal is essentially 100% effective and may reduce future ovarian cancer risk, since many ovarian cancers appear to start in the tube. Your surgeon will discuss the approach.
Related procedures — Women's Health & Childbirth
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