Sterilization As An Option For Women

When looking to a permanent contraception answer most women will choose the tubal ligation. This option, also called sterilization, is a surgical procedure where the physician cuts, or blocks in some manner, the fallopian tubes. This prevents the eggs from reaching the uterus and makes it almost impossible for sperm to reach them. This method is not one hundred percent guaranteed as there is still a one in two hundred chance of conception. The other choice for women is a hysterectomy. In this much more major operation the entire uterus is removed. Therefore, this operation guarantees no more pregnancies. Often the fallopian tubes and ovaries are also removed. This practice is more commonly done due to illness or excessive bleeding during menstruation, endometriosis or cancer. It is not done nearly as often solely for the purpose of sterilization.

If sterilization is the choice a women makes she may have to convince her health care provider that this is the right choice for her depending on her age. If she is under thirty she may have difficulty convincing a surgeon that this is a good idea, especially if she does not have children yet. Many surgeons will suggest she wait since a tubal ligation is a permanent measure. Once this is done the only way a woman could have children would be through the in vitro fertilization process. This is an expensive process if a woman should later regret having had a tubal ligation. That is why she must be certain that this is truly what she wants. Some surgeons will even suggest a few counseling sessions to make sure that the patient has the right reasons, for her, to do such a drastic thing if she is young. If she is over thirty five, and has had her children, then her health care provider will direct her to a good surgeon and understand her want to put an end to the need to worry about contraception.

A women’s menstrual cycle may become heavier after she has had this surgery, but only for a percentage of women. Many remain the same as does their hormone production. For any woman who is worried, her interest in sex will also remain the same. The outcome of the surgery does nothing to affect this. As a matter of fact some women enjoy the sexual experience more knowing that there is no risk of getting pregnant.

In most cases tubal ligation is an outpatient procedure. The woman comes into the hospital in the morning, has the surgery done under a general anesthetic and leaves in the evening to go home. There is also a method of doing this surgery that requires only a local anesthetic. A woman must discuss the options with her surgeon to see which one will be best for her. Once the surgery is completed a woman is protected from getting pregnant. A percentage of women continue using a method of contraception until their first cycle after the surgery. This is a matter of personal preference.

Recommended Reading

1. Facts About Tubal Ligation
A tubal ligation is a procedure which cuts or blocks the fallopian tubes to prevent a woman from becoming pregnant....
2. Contraception Choices
When choosing which method of contraception you use, you need to first identify the many choices that are available to...
3. Questions Women Ask When A Couple Contemplates A Vasectomy
The choice of birth control is something that every sexual individual must decide upon. When you are part of a...
4. The Realities Of Vasectomy
Many men feel that doing something permanent is an option if they are certain that they will not want children....
5. Contraception Use Worldwide
There are approximately one billion females who are between the ages of fifteen to forty nine in the world. Of...