Female sterilization
Female sterilization is usually carried out under general anesthetic but can be carried out under local anesthetic, depending on the method used. The surgery involves blocking or sealing the fallopian tubes, which link the ovaries to the womb (uterus).
This prevents the woman’s eggs from reaching sperm and becoming fertilized. Eggs will still be released from the ovaries as normal, but they will be absorbed naturally into the woman's body.
This prevents the woman’s eggs from reaching sperm and becoming fertilized. Eggs will still be released from the ovaries as normal, but they will be absorbed naturally into the woman's body.
Advantages and disadvantages of female sterilization
Advantages
Other advantages of female sterilisation are that:
Disadvantages
Advantages
- female sterilisation can be more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy
- tubal occlusion (blocking the fallopian tubes) and removal of the tubes (salpingectomy) should be effective immediately – however, doctors strongly recommend that you continue to use contraception until your next period
- hysteroscopic sterilisation is usually effective after around three months – research collected by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) found that the fallopian tubes were blocked after three months in 96% of sterilised women
Other advantages of female sterilisation are that:
- there are rarely any long-term effects on your sexual health
- it will not affect your sex drive
- it will not affect the spontaneity of sexual intercourse or interfere with sex (as other forms of contraception can)
- it will not affect your hormone levels
Disadvantages
- female sterilisation does not protect you against sexually transmitted infections so you should still use a condom if you are unsure about your partner's sexual health
- it is very difficult to reverse a tubal occlusion – this involves removing the blocked part of the fallopian tube and rejoining the ends, and reversal operations are rarely funded by the NHS
For more information visit: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/contraception-guide/Pages/contraception.aspx