It is becoming more common every day for certain people to decide not to have children. After all, a child is a sinkhole of money, dedication and time, but also of fulfillment and happiness for the one who seeks it. Being a parent is a completely personal matter, since self-realization can be found in the offspring, but also in many other places.
Thus, it is estimated today that 150 million women have decided to be sterilized through various methods of tubal ligation around the world. In countries such as Spain, for example, 11% of women between 45 and 49 years of age use this procedure as a definitive contraceptive method. On the other hand, only 1% of girls between 20 and 24 years of age decide to take this path.
Shocking as it may seem, this surgery is reversible in certain cases and approximately 10-15% of the women who undergo it decide to back out because they wish to have children. In these cases, up to 70% of patients can become pregnant after a specific process. If you want to know more about tubal ligation and all that it entails medically and financially, read on.
What is tubal ligation?
The uterine tubes or Fallopian tubes are two muscular ducts that connect the ovaries and the uterus or womb.. Through cauterization, closure or application of staples or rings, these can be interrupted, so that the sperm after intercourse never reach the egg and fertilization does not occur. It should be noted that this surgical procedure does not disrupt the female menstrual cycle.
A tubal ligation can be performed at any time in a woman’s life, and it is also possible to take advantage of other operations to get this procedure out of the way (such as a cesarean section, for example). Even so, all the websites consulted recommend that this surgery be performed on adults who are certain that they will not want to become pregnant because, although in some cases it is reversible, it requires another operation in the operating room and it is not always done effectively.
Foundations specialized in female sterilization recommend the following realities before undergoing tubal ligation:
- That the woman already has children and does not wish to become pregnant in the future. Therefore, it is recommended for mothers aged 40-50 years.
- If the woman is already of advanced maternal age and having children would be a physical or emotional complication.
- It may be recommended in women aged 40-50 years who are predisposed to certain ovarian cancers. Removing the fallopian tubes may decrease this risk.
- It may be recommended for women whose pregnancy could endanger their own life and that of their potential offspring.
What is the procedure like?
Tubal ligations can be performed in a myriad of ways. Among them are the following.
1. Partial Salpingectomy
This is the cutting and removal of a segment of the fallopian tubes, which can be unilateral or bilateral. which can be unilateral or bilateral. In most cases, the base of a 3-4 centimeter segment of the duct is tied off and cut to interrupt the tube. This is the most common type of procedure and is also used to treat certain conditions such as ectopic pregnancy, endometriosis or salpingitis.
2. Tubal occlusion
This procedure is similar to partial salpingectomy, but in this case a clamp is placed to cause the a clamp is placed to cause the obstruction of the tube, which prevents its The effectiveness of this method of contraception is very low.
The effectiveness of this method of contraception is 99% and, in addition, it can be used during cesarean section and other abdominal surgical procedures. Since there is no cut as such, it is one of the easiest tubal ligations to reverse, although this depends largely on the place where the staples have been placed and the state of the affected tissue.
3. Electrocoagulation
The rationale is the same as for partial salpingectomy: to cut off the flow in the fallopian tube itself. It differs from the rest in that, on this occasion, an electric current is used which cuts and coagulates the tissues at the same time. It is performed with an electroscalpel..
4. Essure
Essure was designed as an implantable contraceptive device that permanently blocked the fallopian tubes in women. It could be applied without surgical intervention or anesthesia, since it was a metallic micro-insert that was inserted into the tubes without the need for cutting.
However, it should be noted that these devices have been withdrawn from have been withdrawn from sale in all the countries of the world during the year 2017-2018. The manufacturers themselves argue that this was not done for health reasons but for monetary issues but, be that as it may, the essure is no longer a contraceptive option.
What to expect?
The procedure is usually not very uncomfortableThe patient is given a local or general anesthesia that prevents pain during the surgery. Tenderness and discomfort in the affected area during the first few hours after the procedure is very common, although no hospital stay is generally required during the first night (you can go home after 2-6 hours).
In addition to pain at the incision site, the woman may experience cramping, fatigue, dizziness, gas, shoulder pain and other abdominal signs. Even so, recovery is usually complete within a couple of days and the patient will be able to return to work in about a week, without excessive physical exertion under any circumstances.
99% of women who undergo tubal ligation do not become pregnant at any time in their lives, although there is a very small percentage of women who do.However, there is a very small probability that the operation will fail. The younger the woman is, the more likely it is that the surgery will not work. On the other hand, this procedure can prevent the appearance of certain types of cancer and will certainly improve the woman’s sex life.
Finally, you should keep in mind that tubal ligation does not prevent sexually transmitted infections (STIs), since these are contracted when an infected person has oral or vaginal sex with a healthy person, especially at the time of contact between mucous membranes and genital fluids. Thus, tubal ligation does not mean that condom use with sporadic sexual partners can be abandoned.
Prices and considerations
A tubal ligation can vary in price from 0 to 6,000 euros.depending on the clinic where it is performed and whether you have an insurance that covers part or all of the procedure (it may be performed for medical reasons and, therefore, should be free of charge in some cases on public roads).
We have also told you that this procedure (especially in the tubal occlusion variant) is reversible, although certain considerations must be taken into account. Depending on the “amount” of tubal that has been cut/sealed, the prognosis of a reversal microsurgery can be better or worse. In addition, the younger the patient, the more likely she is to become pregnant and, therefore, in women over 50 years of age it is not considered at all.
About 50% of women who undergo reversal surgery become pregnant again, a figure that ranges between 70-85% in women under 35 years of age. We emphasize that, although it may be a valid option in the face of regret, in no case should it cause you to take the ligation itself lightly. The success of this procedure depends on many factors and is not always effective.
Summary
As you may have read along these lines, tubal ligation is an increasingly common procedure in the older female population. If you are very young and are thinking of undergoing it, we advise you to wait and talk at length with your gynecological professional about it. We never know the twists and turns that life takes and, therefore, making hasty decisions can take its toll in the long run.
On the other hand, it is essential to emphasize that in no case is a tubal ligation an excuse to stop using condomsunless you are fully aware of your sexual partner’s health status. This surgery will prevent you from getting pregnant in 99% of cases, but it does not immunize you against a sexually transmitted infection.