What is sterilization by laparoscopy?
Sterilization by laparoscopy is a common procedure used to perform tubal
ligation in women. Tubal ligation is a method of sterilization that involves
obstruction of the fallopian tubes.
The fallopian tubes are on either side of the uterus and extend
toward the ovaries. They receive eggs from the ovaries and transport them to the
uterus. Once the fallopian tubes are closed, the man's sperm can no longer reach
the egg.
Laparoscopy enables the physician to complete tubal ligation by
making a small incision near the navel. This smaller incision reduces recovery
time after surgery and the risk of complications. In most cases, the woman can
leave the surgery facility within 4 hours after laparoscopy.
Am I ready for sterilization?
A woman should carefully weigh her decision to undergo sterilization by
laparoscopy. Though this procedure has been successfully reversed in some women,
in almost all cases it causes a permanent loss of fertility.
Women who are unsure if they still want children should choose a
less permanent form of contraception, such as birth control pills, an
intrauterine device (IUD), or a barrier method (such as a diaphragm). Discuss
these alternatives with your physician.
Your partner may also consider having a vasectomy, a method of
male sterilization that involves severing and tying the vas deferens, a tube
that transports sperm.
Why do women choose sterilization by laparoscopy?
For women who no longer want children, sterilization by laparoscopy provides
a safe and convenient form of contraception. Once completed, no further steps
are needed to prevent pregnancy. Tubal ligation also does not change a woman's
menstrual cycle or cause menopause.
However, laparoscopy may not be suitable for some women. In
these cases, tubal ligation may be performed by laparotomy, a more extensive
surgery that requires a larger abdominal incision and a day or two of recovery
in the hospital.
How is the surgery performed?
You will be given a general anesthetic to relax your muscles and prevent
pain during surgery. An intravenous line (I.V.) will be inserted into a vein in
your hand or arm. Next, a device will be gently inserted into the vagina to move
the uterus.
A small incision is then made near the navel. A laparoscope, a thin viewing tube
about the width of a pencil, is passed through this incision and the abdomen is
inflated to make the organs easier to view.