Permanent Birth Control Choices
You (and your partner) have decided that you are ready for permanent contraception. You don't
want any more babies, and are tired of trying to remember to use contraception with each episode
of intimacy. What are your options?
TUBAL LIGATION
This procedure can be performed immediately after the birth of
your baby, while you’re still in the hospital. Either this is done while you are asleep or
while your epidural is still in place and working; a 2-3 inch incision is made under your belly button
and your physician enters your abdomen, identifies your Fallopian tubes on either side of your uterus,
and ties/cuts the tubes, permanently preventing future babies. The other way is to have an out patient
procedure done under general anesthesia. This involves a 1-inch incision under your belly button and
another incision at your hairline. The abdomen is distended with gas and the Fallopian tubes are
cut, clamped, tied, or burnt. Sutures are then used to close the incisions, which will remain tender for
several days. Either of these procedures is considered immediately effective and the long-term
effectiveness is 99.6%. This procedure has about a 10% rate of chronic pain after the procedure and
about a 10% rate of menstrual irregularities associated with the procedure.
VASECTOMY
The procedure is done on the male partner, usually in the Urologist's
office under local anesthesia. A small incision is made on either side of the scrotum and the vas deference
is located, tied, and cut. The incisions are sutured together, and remain tender for four to five days.
Additional contraception will be needed for approximately three months, until a semen analysis confirms
the absence of sperm. After the semen analysis confirms no sperm, no additional contraception will be
needed. The procedure is considered to be 99.8% effective. There are no known long-term complications
associated with a vasectomy.
ESSURE
 The
Essure procedure is a non-surgical form of permanentcontraception. The procedure is performed in your
doctor's office under local anesthesia. A hystroscope (a very thin lighted telescope) is placed through
the vagina and cervix, and into the uterine cavity. A small micro-insert is placed in each opening of
the Fallopian tube. The insert causes the Fallopian tube to close around it. The procedure takes about
15 minutes. Additional contraception is needed for 3 months, until a special X-ray confirms that both
tubes are blocked. After that, there is no need for additional protection. For a more thorough discussion
of the Essure procedure, we have provided more information and FAQs about the Essure procedure.
If you are planning to have the Essure procedure done in our AOA office, please read:
. The Essure website for
more about the procedure.
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