In February, a Michigan state representative spoke out about undergoing surgery to prevent pregnancy. Her speech prompted questions about procedures like tubal ligation, sometimes called “getting your tubes tied,” which is increasingly common in states with abortion bans.
It’s a safe and highly effective procedure, and unlike most forms of birth control, it permanently prevents pregnancy.
Read on to learn how tubal ligation works, what to expect if you get one, and more.
How does tubal ligation prevent pregnancy?
During a tubal ligation surgery, a doctor cuts or ties the fallopian tubes, which stops your eggs from entering the uterus. This also stops sperm from traveling through the fallopian tubes to fertilize the eggs.
Is tubal ligation permanent?
Tubal ligation is meant to be permanent. Sometimes it’s possible to reverse the procedure, but this can be an expensive and complicated surgery.
“A limited number of physicians do that, and it doesn’t always work,” said Dr. Erica Schipper, an OB-GYN at Sanford Health, on a recent podcast. “So, I do tell my patients, ‘You should be very sure that you want a permanent form of contraception if you go ahead with this.’”
What should you expect during and after a tubal ligation?
If you’re undergoing a tubal ligation, you can expect to receive general anesthesia to sleep through the procedure, which takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete. It’s usually a laparoscopic surgery, a minimally invasive procedure to see inside your abdomen using a camera. Afterward, you might feel groggy and experience some pain.
Most people recover within a couple of days, but you should avoid lifting anything heavier than 12 pounds for a week after the procedure and avoid swimming or taking baths for at least two weeks. You may experience vaginal bleeding for up to one month after surgery.
Doctors typically advise patients to wait at least one week after the procedure before having sex. This allows the surgical site to heal and reduces the risk of infection.
Some patients may opt to get their tubes tied during a cesarean, or C-section. In this case, the surgeon uses the incision that was made in the abdomen to deliver the baby to access the fallopian tubes. After a C-section, most people stay in the hospital for two to three days before recovering fully at home in four to six weeks.
How effective is it?
Tubal ligation is more than 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy.
If you’re not ready for permanent birth control, there are other highly effective options. Getting an intrauterine device, or an IUD, is also more than 99 percent effective at preventing pregnancy and lasts for several years. A health care provider can remove your IUD if you want to get pregnant.
Learn about other forms of birth control from Planned Parenthood.
What are the risks?
Getting your tubes tied is safe, but like all surgeries, it comes with some risks, like infection of the surgical site or allergic reaction to anesthesia.
“Any risk that comes with any laparoscopic surgery comes with this one,” Schipper added. “That said, this is a procedure that is done quite frequently and usually goes very well.”
Where can you get a tubal ligation?
You can get a tubal ligation at a health care provider’s office, hospital, or health clinic like Planned Parenthood.
How much does it cost?
Depending on your health insurance, tubal ligation can cost anywhere from $0 to $6,000, including follow-up visits.
If you’re worried about affording the procedure, contact your local Planned Parenthood to learn about free or lower-cost forms of birth control.
What barriers may people face when seeking a tubal ligation?
Some patients struggle to get a tubal ligation due to cost, appointment shortages, opposition from partners, and health care providers who are reluctant to perform the surgery on younger patients.
“I will routinely see patients that have been denied by other people because of, ‘Ah, you might want to have kids in the future.’ ‘You don’t have enough kids.’ ‘Are you sure you want to do this? It’s not reversible,’” said Dr. Alexis O’Leary, a Helena, Montana, OB-GYN in a June 2024 article from KFF Health News. If your health care provider is unwilling to perform a tubal ligation, see another provider or visit your local Planned Parenthood.
If you are unable to access a tubal ligation, discuss other birth control options with your health care provider. You can also talk to your partner about getting a vasectomy, if this applies to them. This minor surgical procedure for people with penises stops them from releasing sperm into semen, thus avoiding pregnancy. Vasectomies are meant to be permanent, and the procedure is less invasive and less expensive than a tubal ligation.
For more information, talk to your health care provider.