Health Tip: About Tubal Ligation

(HealthDay News) -- Tubal ligation is a form of female sterilization, often referred to as having your "tubes tied."

In this procedure, a woman''s fallopian tubes are blocked to prevent fertilization of a woman''s egg by a man''s sperm. The woman is typically able to go home a few hours after the procedure.

According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), risks associated with tubal ligation include bleeding, infection and damage to other organs during surgery. If the fallopian tubes are not completely sealed off, the potential for pregnancy still exists.

Although the procedure sometimes is reversible, women who have tubal ligation should consider it a permanent form of sterilization, the NLM says. Only 50 percent to 80 percent of women eventually become pregnant after tubal ligation reversal, it adds.

-- Diana Kohnle

Last Updated: July 25, 2006