Should You Have Your Tubes Tied?

OK, so you’re done with the patter of tiny feet on the kitchen tiles. Or, maybe watching your sister’s two-year-old turn into something other than human, writhing about on the floor of the spice aisle at the grocery store, screaming like a hyena with an abscessed tooth, has firmed up your decision to forgo having children.

Either way, not having to think about birth control ever again can be very freeing. Tubal ligation, colloquially known as “tying your tubes,” is the most popular form of birth control among married couples.

You can have it done right in the hospital right after delivery by your Women’s Health Medical Group doctor. He or she will simply make a small cut in your abdomen. Then they’ll cut and seal off both of your Fallopian tubes by cutting, tying, banding, or clamping them so they aren’t delivering eggs for those frisky sperm to meet up with.

Before you opt to have your tubes tied, however, you should consider the pros and cons of having your tubes tied.

Pros

• For the long haul — It’s the gift that keeps not giving, forever. While things like IUDs and birth control implants are long lasting, tubal sterilization is the only method that is permanent.

• It is effective — Forget about forgetting to take your pill. Forget about his condom breaking. With tubal ligation, you can’t mess up and be human. It’s the most effective form of birth control other than your boyfriend or husband growing a beard that looks like he just came out of the woods after 14 years.

• It doesn’t mess with your hormones — Unlike the pill, which uses hormones to trick your body into thinking it’s pregnant, tubal ligation doesn’t change the levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body. You’ll still get your period, and your moods and sex drive shouldn’t be impacted as they can be with the pill.

Cons

• This is forever — Having tubal ligation isn’t a casual decision, especially if you’re under 30. After all, what happens if your tubes have been tied, but then at 34 you meet the guy you want to have kids with?

• You can have surgery to reverse and re-open your tubes, but it is very expensive, and the success rates vary with age and on how much of your tubes are left after the original surgery.

• There is some risk — Tubal ligation is a safe procedure and complications are very rare, but they can happen. Most often the problem can be an accidental injury to the bowel, bladder, or arteries. They are very rare, however.

If you’re finished with having children, tubal ligation is a great option and one we offer at Women’s Health Medical Group. If you’re considering it, let’s talk. Call us at (817) 346-5336 for your appointment.