Tubal ligation (OTB)

You may be a candidate for tubal ligation if you are an adult woman who is certain she does not want a pregnancy in the future. It is important to know that tubal ligation does not change your hormones or your menstrual cycle, does not bring on menopause, and does not protect against sexually transmitted infections. Because it is a permanent method that is difficult to reverse, the decision should be made freely, with full information, and without pressure.

During your consultation, the specialist reviews your medical history, previous surgeries, and the medications you take, and talks with you in depth about your reasons, your circumstances, and the available alternatives — including long-acting reversible contraception. Depending on your case, the specialists at Healthcare by the Sea will help you confirm whether tubal ligation is the right choice for you.

Tubal ligation is performed under anesthesia, which may be general or regional, depending on your case, the timing of the procedure, and what the medical team recommends.

Outside of childbirth, the most common approach is laparoscopy: through one or two small incisions near the navel, the surgeon inserts a thin camera and gently expands the abdomen with gas to see the tubes clearly. Using fine instruments, a segment of each fallopian tube is cut, sealed with energy, or blocked with small devices; in some cases, removing the tubes entirely may be recommended. When tubal ligation is done shortly after childbirth, it is usually performed through a small incision below the navel.

Afterward, you rest in a recovery room under close observation by the medical team. As an outpatient procedure, most patients return home later the same day, with clear instructions and the attentive support of our team.

Everything starts with a consultation and a counseling conversation: the specialist reviews your medical history, answers your questions, and makes sure you understand the benefits, the risks, the permanent nature of the procedure, and the alternatives, so you can make a well-informed, unhurried decision.

Tell your doctor about all the medications and supplements you take; medicines that increase bleeding, such as blood thinners, aspirin, or ibuprofen, should be paused only if your doctor instructs you to and with the timing they specify. If you smoke, stopping is recommended, and you will receive fasting instructions for the day of surgery. Your doctor may ask you to keep using your usual birth control method until the day of the procedure.

Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and, if possible, to stay with you the first night. Our team in Puerto Vallarta can help you coordinate these details — especially if you are traveling from another city or from the U.S. or Canada.

After surgery, it is normal to feel mild abdominal and incision discomfort, some swelling, tiredness and, after laparoscopy, shoulder pain or a bloated feeling from the gas used, which usually goes away within a few days. Keep your incisions clean and dry as instructed, and take the pain reliever your doctor prescribes.

In many cases you can gradually return to your everyday activities within a few days, avoiding strenuous exercise and heavy lifting for as long as your doctor advises; your doctor will also tell you when you can resume sexual activity. Although tubal ligation is an effective form of birth control, no method removes the possibility of pregnancy entirely; if you ever miss a period or have pregnancy symptoms afterward, contact your doctor promptly, since in those uncommon cases there is a chance the pregnancy could be outside the uterus.

Go to the emergency room right away if you develop a high fever, bleeding or discharge from your incisions, severe abdominal pain or pain that gets worse instead of better, dizziness, or fainting, and notify the doctor who performed your procedure as soon as possible.

Medical reference source: Mayo Clinic.