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Sterilization

Obstetrics and Gynecologist in West Houston, TX
Sterilization

If you’re confident that your natural family planning days have ended, you may want to consider sterilization as a form of permanent birth control. At Elite Women's Care Center in Houston, Texas, the board-certified OB/GYNs have the expertise and experience to perform this procedure. To learn more about sterilization and find out if it’s right for you, call the office today or use the online scheduling tool.

Sterilization Q & A

What is sterilization?

Sterilization is a minimally invasive procedure that offers a permanent solution for preventing pregnancy. At Elite Women’s Care Center, the team offers sterilization through a medical procedure called tubal ligation.

After the surgical process, you can rely on a short recovery time with no long-term side effects.

How does the sterilization procedure work?

Before your procedure, you receive general anesthesia so that you won’t feel or remember anything.

To begin, your surgeon makes a small incision in your navel or lower abdomen to expand the area with gas, inflating it like a balloon. This allows access to your reproductive organs using a laparoscope to seal your fallopian tubes. Your physician may cut and fold your tubes, remove sections of them, or block them with bands or clips.

Your practitioner at Elite Women’s Care Center can discuss the details of the procedure with you beforehand to help you know exactly what to expect.

What are the benefits of sterilization?

Sterilization is an effective option if you want permanent birth control. While many birth control methods like an intrauterine device (IUD), birth control pills, or the implant have side effects, sterilization seems to be a better choice for many women for the following beneficial reasons:

  • Highly safe option
  • Few, if any, side effects
  • Extremely low failure rate
  • May reduce the risk of ovarian cancer

Sterilization also does not affect your hormones, menstrual cycle, or sexual desire.

Am I a candidate for sterilization?

If you want to conceive in the future, sterilization is not the right choice for you. You should only consider sterilization if you choose not to birth children or don’t wish to have any more naturally.

The procedure blocks your fallopian tubes, which stops sperm from having access to your eggs for fertilization. This means you won’t be able to get pregnant once your sterilization process is complete.

Can sterilization be reversed?

Tubal ligation can be reversed; however, the process is risky and may fail. You should only opt for sterilization if you want a permanent solution for birth control.

To book a consultation about sterilization or other forms of birth control, call the friendly staff at Elite Women’s Care Center today, or use the online booking tool at your convenience.