CHAPTER 11
Female Sterilization

Key Points for Providers and Clients
Permanent. Intended to provide life-long, permanent, and very effective protection against pregnancy. Reversal is usually not possible. Involves a physical examination and surgery. The procedure is done by a specifically trained provider. No long-term side effects.

What Is Female Sterilization?

Permanent contraception for women who will not want more children.
The 2 surgical approaches most often used:
- Minilaparotomy involves making a small incision in the abdomen. The fallopian tubes are brought to the incision to be cut or blocked.
- Laparoscopy involves inserting a long thin tube with a lens in it into the abdomen through a small incision. This laparoscope enables the doctor to see and block or cut the fallopian tubes in the abdomen.
Also called tubal sterilization, tubal ligation, voluntary surgical contraception, tubectomy, bi-tubal ligation, tying the tubes, minilap, and "the operation."
Works because the fallopian tubes are blocked or cut. Eggs released from the ovaries cannot move down the tubes, and so they do not meet sperm.