Laparoscopic sterilization is also known as laparoscopic tubal litigation where a woman is sterilized by clamping and blocking or severing and sealing her fallopian tubes. It is a method used to prevent the eggs from entering the fallopian tube and get fertilized. Tubal litigation is however a permanent method of sterilization.
The procedure of laparoscopic sterilization
The method of laparoscopic sterilization is quite simple. Here a thin, long instrument is inserted through a small incision made near the navel. Another small incision is also made near the first one, to remove the dissected fallopian tube. The fallopian tubes are then closed off using a band or clips. In many a cases they are often cut and closed with sterilized threads and sutured or they are sealed using electric current. After the dissection or the sealing is done, the instrument is withdrawn from inside the body and the incision is stitched or taped.
Benefits of laparoscopic sterilization
Laparoscopic sterilization comes with its own share of benefits. The common method practiced for sterilization is minilaparotomy. But doctors prefer this method because the recovery time is extremely less. Moreover, the laparoscopy sterilization method has fewer complications attached to the surgery, because of tits less invasive procedure and quicker recovery time. This procedure is generally performed as outpatient surgery, which means that the patient can go home in the same day and a resting period of one to two weeks are enough for recovery. It is also preferred over the hysteroscopic sterilization as well because in hysteroscopic sterilization, the result takes time to become effective, where as in laparoscopic sterilization the effect is instantaneous.
What to expect after a laparoscopic sterilization
As soon as the surgery is performed, the patient will be kept under close supervision for some time. This is to ensure that there are no post-operative complications and the sutures are all perfect. The patient will be discharged with 2 to 3 hours post surgery, but make sure that there is someone taking you home, rather than travelling alone. The days following the surgery are pretty crucial, for you need to be taken care of for a week at least. There may be some discomfort in this period and a number of other symptoms that may include nausea, dizziness, shoulder pain, gassy and bloated, abdominal cramps, a sore throat caused due to the breathing tube, which was inserted for general anesthesia.
After this crucial post-operative period, it is advised that you fix up an appointment with your doctor and get a check up on your stitched areas and whether there is any internal bleeding or not. Generally, after a week, the patient is able to return to her normal lifestyle.
A laparoscopic sterilization cannot be reversed
If you are opting for laparoscopic sterilization, you must be very aware of one important fact, this is a non-reversible procedure. If you change your mind after the procedure to get pregnant, you won’t be able to do that. It is a one way surgical procedure and has failed to bear any result even after reversion. Moreover, a reversed sterilization increases the chances of ectopic pregnancy. So be careful.
