Tubal Ligation (Female Sterilisation)

Maybe you have two children and you're sure there won't be a third. Or you've spent years juggling pills, copper-T check-ups and late-period scares, and you're ready to stop thinking about it. For women who are certain, sterilisation is a one-time answer.

In tubal ligation, often called getting your tubes tied, the surgeon blocks, cuts or removes both fallopian tubes so that eggs and sperm can no longer meet. It's usually done by laparoscopy through one or two small cuts, or through the same opening during a caesarean section. After a normal delivery it can be done through a small cut just below the navel.

It's one of the most reliable forms of contraception, with about 1 in 200 women becoming pregnant at some point afterwards. It doesn't change your hormones, periods or sex drive. Treat it as permanent: reversal is a major operation and often doesn't work.

You can talk through family planning with our gynaecologists, who also do the keyhole operation. Before you sign anything, we'll go over long-acting methods you can reverse, such as a hormonal coil.

For most women sterilisation is a personal choice rather than a medical need. It's usually chosen for one of these reasons.