Tubal litigation FAQ - menstruation changes |
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| A Tubal litigation (ligation) is a female sterilization operation - the corresponding male operation is called a visectomy (vasectomy, vasectomies, vesectomy, vasectamy). | |
Tubal ligation
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FAQ: How does a tubal ligation work?The tubal ligation is fully functional and working immediately after the operation is finished. The female patient is recommended to rest for 2 or 3 days and not make any hard activities during one week. When the patient feels comfortable, the sexual activity can start again. This usually occurs after about one week following the operation. Those who have their surgery through the vagina are recommended not to put anything into the vagina for two weeks, this is to prevent infection. The operation is fairly safe and has few complications although some are reported. It is done under general anaesthatic, sometimes with a local. FAQ: Will a tubal ligation change menstruation?Generally, no. The periods will usually continue with the same pattern as before the sterilization and most patients report no changes at all to the periods. There can be changes, but that does not necessarily mean the changes of the menstruation pattern has anything to do with the operation. If you used birth control pills or IUD before your tubal ligation, menstruation pattern could change merely due to the fact that you stop using the previous method of birth control. There are changes reported with both heavier periods, and lighter, after women stop using the pill. There are also typically a change in the menstruation pattern when patients get older and this is a natural process due to the uterus changing its shape and size with aging. A sterilization will not be the cause of these changes. There are some reports of female patients gaining weight, or having a small increase of cramping in connection with their periods following a tubal ligation. FAQ: Will the operation delay menopause?No, the menopause will still occur and there will still be cases where patients are recommended hormones for relief from menopause symptoms - the sterilization will not change anything of this. The hormones are administered as usual as well to decrease the risk of getting any heart disease, Alzimers disease or osteoporosis. Nothing of this is changed in any way by the tubal ligation and there are no hormonal changes reported. FAQ: What's the difference to a histerectomy (hysterecomy)?A hysterectomy (histerectomy) is the only other available female sterilization method. A hysterectomy is when the entire uterus is removed which is a major operation and not normally done for the purpose of sterilization only, but rather when there is a uterus problem or where there is medical need for removing both ovaries. A histerectomy will end menstruation completely and all chances of becoming pregnant. It is not reversible. A hysterectomy is performed either through the vagina, or through the abdomen and there are combined methods as well. The patient will need to spend a number of days in hospital and a rest period at home afterwards of several weeks is normally required. Intercourse should be avoided for at least 4-6 weeks after this operation. There are 10-20% operations with complications. As a comparison, a tubal litigation (ligation) is a much smaller and safer method of sterilization than a histerectomy (hysterectomy).
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