Tubal Ligation Side Effects

Tubal ligation procedure involves the surgical blockage of the fallopian tubes, with an objective to prevent fertilization in women. Some of the possible side effects of this surgery are menstrual problems, hormonal fluctuations, post ligation syndrome, and infection.

Tubal ligation or tubectomy is a surgical procedure conducted for permanent sterilization in women. Informally referred to as ‘getting your tubes tied’, it is done to block the fallopian tubes and prevent fertilization. As a part of the reproduction process, the egg produced in the ovary travels to the uterus. Either way, the sperm enters the fallopian tubes for fertilizing the egg. After conducting a tubal ligation procedure, entry of the egg or sperm to the fallopian tube is denied, thus, preventing fertilization. Apart from a few side effects observed post this surgery, it is a relatively safe procedure.

In this procedure, the fallopian tubes are cut, severed, or burned first and then tied so as to avoid fertilization from taking place. Based on the methodology of blocking fallopian tubes, there are basically 4 types of occlusion techniques followed in tubal ligation, viz., partial salpingectomy, silicone ring, clips, and cauterization. Out of these, the most common is partial salpingectomy that involves making a loop in the fallopian tube and cutting it. The silicone ring and clip are used for scarring the tube, while cauterization is done for burning a small section of the tube with an electric current.

The procedure of tubectomy in favor of family planning is controversial, which is mainly because of the probable aftereffects of the procedure. While some go through a painful tubal ligation syndrome, others may not experience any such discomfort symptoms at all. Also, this surgical procedure is not effective for protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as AIDS. Some of the negative effects of tubectomy are as follows:

► Tubal Ligation Syndrome
One of the most commonly reported bilateral tubal ligation side effects is tubal ligation syndrome. As the term signifies, it encompasses various symptoms including a painful menstrual cycle, excess menstrual bleeding, an irregular menstrual cycle, and missing periods.

► Infection
As a surgery (minimal invasive or regular) is involved in tubectomy, there are chances of infection at the operating site. Internal injuries are another risk it poses. Some women even report of bladder infection and uterine perforation after the procedure.

► Birth Control
As per statistics, the success rate of birth control with tubectomy is approximately 99.5%. So, even after the procedure, there is still a 0.5% risk of getting pregnant. And, the concerning issue is that a pregnancy after tubectomy is mostly ectopic, i.e., the fertilized egg implants and develops outside the uterus.

► Excess Bleeding
With any type of surgery, it is usual to experience some bleeding. However, a woman undergoing tubectomy suffers a high risk of abnormal bleeding during and after the procedure. Those suffering from blood clotting disorders are at a higher risk of experiencing this side effect than others.

► Other Side Effects
Weight gain is observed in some recipients. A few of them experience mood swings and sexual health problems after the surgery. Most of these side effects occur due to the sudden change in the hormonal levels (which normalize over time).

Please bear in mind that the manifestation of the side effects of tubectomy vary from one recipient to another. So, the best way is to open up and talk to a gynecologist regarding the pros and cons of this surgical procedure. You can also inquire whether it will be the correct birth control technique for you or not. As tubectomy is a technique for permanent sterilization and reversal is not likely possible, one needs to reconsider before undergoing such a procedure.

Disclaimer: This HerHaleness article is for informative purposes only and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.