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Tubal Ligation and Tubal Implants
Tubal ligation. Major complications of tubal ligation are not common.
- Minor complications include infection and wound separation.
- Major complications include heavy blood loss, general anesthesia problems, organ injury during surgery, and need for a larger laparotomy incision during surgery.
Although fewer complications occur with laparoscopy than with other kinds of tubal ligation surgery, these complications can be more serious. For example, in rare cases, the bowel or bladder is injured when the laparoscope is inserted.
The general risks of surgery are greater if you have diabetes, are overweight, smoke, or have a heart condition.
Tubal implants. There are rare reports of implants causing pelvic pain that doesn't go away. In these cases, the implants were removed 6 weeks after they were placed in the fallopian tubes.1 The risk of pelvic infection is greater with tubal implants. Before you receive implants, you will be tested to make sure that you don't have a vaginal infection or a sexually transmitted disease (STD).
Ectopic pregnancy risk
If a tubal ligation or implant fails and you become pregnant, you have an increased risk of having an ectopic pregnancy. Ectopic pregnancies can occur years after the tubal ligation and are most likely 3 or more years after the procedure.3 For more information, see the topic Ectopic Pregnancy.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: May 13, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | Sarah Marshall, MD - Family Medicine Kirtly Jones, MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
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