The Pros and Cons of Getting Your Tubes Tied

Every year, about 700,000 women in the U.S. undergo tubal ligation (the process of getting tubes tied). Also called tubal sterilization, it’s a procedure that acts as permanent birth control. It involves blocking, cutting, or tying the fallopian tubes.

Although tubal ligation is safe and effective, it’s not 100% free of risks and drawbacks. So, before you undergo a procedure, it pays to know more about its pros and cons first.

This guide details the good and bad sides of getting your tubes tied, so be sure to read on.

The Pros of Tubal Ligation

One of the primary benefits of tubal ligation is its high success rate of between 97% and 99%. That implies that the procedure can successfully prevent most pregnancies. For the same reason, you may no longer need to rely on other birth control methods.

Speaking of birth control, did you know that pills may raise one’s risk for some cancers?

One example is cervical cancer. Studies suggest that the longer one takes contraceptives, the higher the risk. However, that drops once a woman stops taking the birth control pills.

The risk for breast cancer may also increase due to the long-term use of birth control pills. One study found that women who had ever taken them had a 7% higher relative risk. That’s in comparison to females who’ve never used oral contraceptives.

At the very least, birth control pills can trigger many unpleasant side effects. Acne, fatigue, headaches, mood swings, and weight gain are just a few.

So, if you no longer want to get pregnant and don’t want to take pills, either, consider getting your tubes tied.

The Cons of Tubal Ligation

It’s rare, but pregnancy after tubal ligation can still occur. As mentioned above, the procedure’s success rate is between 97% and 99%. Thus, you still have a 1% to 3% chance of getting pregnant even with your tubes tied.

The permanence of a tubal ligation procedure is also a double-edged sword. That’s especially true in women who regret their decision to get it. According to one study, the probability of regret is 12.7% within 14 years.

If, at any point, you decide you want to conceive again, tubal ligation reversal can make it possible. However, that means you’d have to undergo another surgery that can leave you with more scars. If this is something that you’d still consider, refer to this web page for more information.

Also, keep in mind that, as safe and effective as tubal ligation is, it’s still a surgical procedure. So it’s not 100% risk-free; for instance, it’s possible to get an infection after the surgery. In addition, damage to other organs, such as the blood vessels, bladder, or bowel, may occur.

Consider These Before Getting Your Tubes Tied

As you can see, getting your tubes tied is a safe, effective way to prevent pregnancy. However, because it’s permanent, you must ensure you no longer want to have kids. Otherwise, you’d have to get it reversed, doubling not only your risks but your costs, too.

So, think many times before finalizing your decision to undergo tubal ligation.

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