Tubal litigation and histerectomy FAQ

Tubal litigation (ligation) is a female sterilization. This is a small and safe procedure with few complications. As a comparison, the histerectomy (hysterectomy) is also a sterilization of females, but usually done for other purposes as it is a major surgery removing the whole uterus. The male sterilization operation is called visectomy (vasectomy).

Occlusions, or tubal ligations, are clinically well proven and with few reported complications and as such a very safe surgical procedure operation. The sterilization through occlusion (tubal litigation), is normally a permanent operation. Reversing a tubal ligation can be done though under certain circumstances. Tuba litigation reversal is a more complicated operation than the occlusion itself.

Q: What is a tubal litigation (ligation)?

A tubal litigation is a small surgical procedure with a high success rate and few complications. It is recommended that you rest a few days after the tuba ligation and avoid any heavy work for the first 7 days. Sexual activity can resume around one week after the occlusion, or as soon as you feel comfortable with it. In the case of when the operation has been performed with vaginal surgery, it is a genereal recommendation to avoid any objects inside the vagina for at least 14 days in order to minimize infection risk.

A tubal ligation is done under a general anesthetic, or in some cases using local anaesthetic. 

Q: Will my menstruation change with a tubal ligation?

As a general rule, no it will not. Most patients have reported no change at all in the period pattern as compared to before the sterilization operation. Changes may still occur, but for secondary reasons such as if you used to be on birth control pills but ceased with that after the operation. Other changes in birth control, also following the operation, can also have an impact on the menstrual pattern. After female patients stop using birth control pills, there are reports on both lighter and heavier periods so there is no clear pattern.

As you get older, there will of course also be a change to the menstruational pattern, which is a completely natural process linked to the change in size and shape of the uterus when you age. The occlusion operation will not be causing these changes, they will have other and natural causes. There have been some reported cases of women adding to their weight, and also some small increase in the frequency of cramps in combination with the period after a tubal litigation.

Q: Will an occlusion (ligation) delay breakout of menopause?

No it will not. The menopause will occur as it would have anyway, with the same pattern and intensity as if you did not have the tuba ligation operation. There may be need for hormone treatment for handling menopause symptoms, but that is just as without the sterilization. Hormones will in this case be handled in the same way as if there were no prior sterilization, i.e. they will not be affected by the operation, nor will the combination of the sterilization and the hormones affect the risk of heart disease, Alzimers disease etc in any other way than without the operation. 

Q: Is occlusion the same as a histerectomy (hysterectomy)?

No it is not. Although a histerectomy (hysterectomy) is a sterilizing operation, that is not usually the primary reason for this operation. As a hysterectomy removes the entire uterus, it is a major surgery and this is usually performed where there is a uterus problem, where there is a need for removing the ovaries etc - often to remove cancers. After a histerectomy, menopause will be entered with immediate effect and all future possibilities of getting pregnant are zero. A hysterectomy can not be reversed.

The operation is performed normally through either the abdomen wall, or through the vagina. There are methods combining the two as well. Following a histrectomy, the patient will have to stay in hospital for a short period and then stay at rest at home for weeks. Any sexual intercourse should be postponed up to 6 weeks after the hystrectomy. Hysterectomies have around 10-20% complication rate.

For sterilization only, a tubal litigation (ligation) is prefered as it is a small and safe operation.