Tubal Ligation

When you know pregnancy isn’t in your future or your family is complete, birth control shouldn’t be another thing on your to-do list.

Tubal ligation, or “getting your tubes tied,” can effectively (and permanently) prevent pregnancy. Permanent birth control offers freedom and relief, but it’s also a big decision. And it’s only natural if you have questions before moving forward with it. How soon will you recover? Will your periods or sex drive be different? Is it reliable?

Our expert healthcare providers have the answers you need to feel comfortable with your decision. And because tubal ligation involves surgery, having a skilled, experienced provider is important. We do thousands of these surgeries each year, often using minimally invasive techniques to help prevent complications and shorten your recovery — so you can move forward with confidence.

Why Choose Cleveland Clinic for Tubal Ligation?

Personalized care:

Our providers get to know you before creating your care plan. We want to be sure you make an informed decision. That’s why we’ll go over all reversible and permanent birth control options before we schedule surgery. Meet our team.

Minimally invasive options:

We always try to do a minimally invasive surgery called laparoscopy for tubal ligations. Small tools and tiny incisions usually cause less scarring and make recovery shorter.

Virtual visits:

Not all follow-up appointments need to be in person. Our virtual visits let you and your provider meet one-on-one using the camera on your smartphone, tablet or computer. All you need is an internet connection to get started.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We’re recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.

Tubal Ligation Consultation at Cleveland Clinic

Tubal ligation is permanent surgical birth control. It involves completely blocking or removing your fallopian tubes, which transport eggs from your ovaries to your uterus. When your fallopian tubes are blocked or removed, sperm can’t reach an egg. So, the egg can’t be fertilized for pregnancy.

What to expect at your first visit

Whether you’re ready to have tubal ligation or thinking about it, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know.

Because it’s a permanent decision, we’ll spend time talking with you about your needs and goals before moving forward with scheduling surgery. This helps us get a complete picture of what you want from this surgery — and why. And we’ll answer all your questions.

Our team has decades of experience providing birth control counseling for people of all ages and genders. We’ll go over the risks and benefits of various permanent and reversible (not permanent) choices with you. We want to be sure you’re ready to have a tubal ligation instead of using reversible birth control (contraception).

Providers Who Perform Tubal Ligation

Locations

Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio and Florida.

Having a Tubal Ligation at Cleveland Clinic

Often, we’ll do your tubal ligation using a minimally invasive surgery called laparoscopy in one of our same-day surgery centers or in the hospital. Or we may do the procedure through a mini-laparotomy (mini-lap) within 24 hours of a vaginal delivery. With either procedure, you’ll need to have a friend or family member come with you, though, to drive you home after surgery.

What to expect during a laparoscopic tubal ligation

Every member of our team focuses on your well-being and comfort before, during and after your tubal ligation. Our anesthesia team is experienced in choosing the right general anesthesia for your needs. The procedure usually takes less than an hour. You’ll be asleep and not feel any pain the entire time.

We’ll make a small incision (cut) by or in your belly button (navel). Then we’ll insert a laparoscope (a thin tube with a camera on the end) into the incision. We’ll also use a safe gas to inflate your belly so we can see your organs better. Then we’ll make two more tiny incisions in the lower parts of your abdomen to insert tools. We most often recommend removing your fallopian tubes completely (salpingectomy).

After we do this, we’ll remove the tools and put small bandages on your incisions. Then, we’ll send the fallopian tubes to the lab where our pathologists will look at them closely under a microscope to make sure everything is OK.

What to expect during a mini-laparotomy tubal ligation

This open surgery makes a smaller incision (cut) than a regular laparotomy. That’s why it’s called “mini.” It’s done within 24 hours of giving birth vaginally, while you still have an epidural catheter in place. If you didn’t have an epidural, we’ll give you a spinal anesthesia before surgery.

Your provider makes a small incision right above your belly button. Then, if possible, we remove your entire fallopian tube or tubes, in a process similar to that for laparoscopic tubal ligation, and typically use an electrical current (electrocautery) to seal your incisions.

What to expect after tubal ligation

After surgery, you’ll spend time in a comfortable recovery area until you wake up from anesthesia. We’ll check your blood pressure and pulse, too. Before you leave, you’ll get instructions for your recovery. Our team explains how to care for your incisions and when you can resume activities.

As you recover, you may have mild nausea and a swollen belly for a few days. Because of the gas used in surgery, you may also have some chest, neck and shoulder discomfort for a couple of days. And some vaginal bleeding is normal for a week or so after surgery. Bleeding may last longer if you’re postpartum.

We’re here to help, even after you go home. We provide you with a 24-hour phone number to call if you have questions about any post-surgery symptoms.

Taking the Next Step

When you know you don’t want to get pregnant, tubal ligation is a safe, effective way to prevent it. Whether you’re happy with the size of your family or have made the decision to be child-free, our compassionate team supports your personal choice. You can be confident that our team will never make you justify or defend your right to have a tubal ligation. We’re here to answer your questions and give you the information you need to move forward with your decision.