STERILISATION

Sterilisation is the process of completely taking away the body’s ability to reproduce through surgery or minimal invasion.

No. Most research finds no major changes in bleeding patterns after female sterilisation. If a woman was using a hormonal method or IUD before sterilisation, her bleeding pattern will return to the way it was before she used these methods. For example, women switching from combined oral contraceptives to female sterilisation may notice heavier bleeding as their monthly bleeding returns to usual patterns. Note, however, that a woman’s monthly bleeding usually becomes less regular as she approaches menopause.

No. After sterilisation, a woman will look and feel the same as before. She can have sex the same as before. She may find that she enjoys sex more because she does not have to worry about getting pregnant.

No. After sterilisation, a woman will look and feel the same as before. She can have sex the same as before. She may find that she enjoys sex more because she does not have to worry about getting pregnant.

Tubal ligation is very effective at preventing pregnancy and is intended to be permanent. It is not 100% effective, however. Women who have been sterilized have a slight risk of becoming pregnant: About 5 of every 1,000 women become pregnant within a year after the procedure. The small risk of pregnancy remains beyond the first year and until the woman reaches menopause.

Sterilisation is intended to be permanent. People who may want more children should choose a different contraceptive method. Surgery to reverse sterilisation is possible for only some women—those who have enough fallopian tubes left. Even among these women, reversal often does not lead to pregnancy. The procedure is difficult and expensive, and healthcare providers who can perform such surgery are hard to find. When pregnancy does occur after reversal, the risk that the pregnancy will be ectopic is greater than usual. Thus, sterilisation should be considered irreversible.