Sterilization/ Tubal Ligation

Sterilization refers to surgery that ends a woman’s ability to conceive. There are two primary types of female sterilization – laparoscopic tubal ligation and non-invasive sterilization. (Essure treatment) – available at the Georgia Advanced Surgery Center for Women. These procedures are frequently chosen by women who do not want more children, but who are still sexually active and potentially fertile, and want to be free of the limitations of other types of birth control (e.g., oral contraceptions, IUDs, etc.). Only patients who are completely certain that they are done with childbearing should choose these methods of contraception.

Tubal ligation, known as getting one’s “tubes tied,” is a permanent voluntary form of birth control (contraception) in which a woman’s Fallopian tubes are surgically sealed in order to prevent pregnancy. Performed quickly and easily with laparoscopy using special clips called Filshie clips, the procedure should be considered permanent – though it can be reversed.

Essure is a form of irreversible birth control. The non-invasive outpatient procedure, which takes only 10-15 minutes, involves inserting (through the cervix using a special small telescope with camera attached) a tiny ”microinsert” into the fallopian tubes. Over the course of about three months, the microinserts cause a type of healing tissue to grow in the fallopian tubes, which acts as a natural barricade to sperm and prevents pregnancy.