Tubal Ligation Side Effects

Tubal ligation 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 the sperm to the fallopian tube is denied, thus preventing fertilization. Apart from some post tubal ligation side effects, it is a relatively safe procedure.

Tubal Ligation Procedure

In a tubal ligation 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 four types of occlusion techniques followed in tubal ligation, viz. partial salpingectomy, silicone ring, clip 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.

Side Effects of Tubal Ligation

The procedure of tubal ligation in favor of family planning is controversial, which is mainly because of the probable after effects of tubal ligation. While some go through a painful tubal ligation syndrome, others may not experience any such discomfort symptoms. Also, tubal ligation is not effective for protection against sexually transmitted diseases (STD) such as AIDS. Some of the negative effects of tubal ligation 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 surgery (minimal invasive or regular) is involved in conducting tubal ligation, there are chances of infection at the operating site. Internal injuries are another risk of tubal ligation. Some women even report bladder infection and uterine perforation after receiving a tubal ligation procedure.

Birth Control: As per statistics, the success rate of birth control with tubal ligation is approximately 99.5 percent. So, even after the procedure, there is still 0.5 percent risk of getting pregnant. And the concerning issue is that pregnancy after tubal ligation is mostly ectopic, in which the fertilized egg implants and develops outside the uterus.

Excess Bleeding: With any type of surgery, it is usual to have some bleeding. However, a woman undergoing tubal ligation has a risk of abnormal bleeding during and after the procedure. Those candidates with 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 are resulted due to sudden change in the hormonal levels, which will resolve over time.

It is to be borne in mind that the manifestation of tubal ligation side effects 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 tubal ligation surgery. You can also inquire whether it will be the correct birth control technique for you or not. As tubal ligation is a technique for permanent sterilization and reversal is not likely, one needs to reconsider before undergoing such a procedure.