Tubal Ligation: Is It The Right Birth Control Method For You?

Emily Teo
3 min readFeb 29, 2024

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Tubal ligation is one of the many birth control options available to Singaporean women. It is a surgical procedure wherein your fallopian tubes are blocked off by cutting, tying, clamping, or banding them. This keeps sperm from reaching the eggs. The eggs cannot travel from your ovaries to the uterus either.

Many women’s clinics in Singapore may recommend this method if you want a more permanent way to prevent pregnancies. However, is it really the right choice for you? Let us first understand what tubal ligation entails so you can make a more informed decision.

Pros and Cons of Tubal Ligation

Tubal ligation is a very personal decision for women. It is best to weigh the pros and cons before You can discuss them in further detail with your gynae at the women’s clinic in Singapore.

Advantages

  • Tubal ligation is the most effective form of female birth control, with only 1 in 200 women getting pregnant after getting ligated.
  • It also has no effect on your hormones, so there is no need to worry about conditions such as mood swings, weight gain, or earlier onset of menopause.
  • Tubal ligation also drastically lowers your risk of developing ovarian cancer. This can be highly beneficial if you have risk factors for cancer.

Disadvantages

  • Complications after tubal ligations are rare, but they can still happen. Some risks include irregular bleeding, foul vaginal discharge, allergic reactions to anaesthesia, and post-surgery infections.
  • Tubal ligation is meant as a permanent birth control method, which may lead to regrets later if you end up wanting a child of your own. You have little to no more chances of conceiving unless you try to unblock the tubes or use in vitro fertilisation.
  • The surgery increases your risk of ectopic pregnancies. This type of pregnancy is when the fertilised egg implants itself in the fallopian tube, not the uterus.

Fallopian Tubes May Still Grow Back

Though tubal ligation is intended as a permanent solution, there is a slim chance of the fallopian tubes growing back together after the surgery. This has a higher possibility of occurring among younger women.

Be sure to head to your women’s clinic in Singapore if you find yourself pregnant, as it is at high risk of being an ectopic pregnancy.

Consider Your Priorities First

If you are considering undergoing tubal ligation, be sure to set all your priorities straight. This is a decision that affects not only your present but also your future.

Ask yourself these questions to get started:

  • Have you already considered other forms of birth control with your partner?
  • Are you sure that you do not want any biological children or that you do not want more than you already have?

If you are not truly certain of your choice not to conceive, this might not be the correct birth control method for you.

Other Birth Control Alternatives to Tubal Ligation

Tubal ligation is not the only way that a gynae can help you prevent pregnancies. There are reversible options that work for both the long and short term, such as:

  • Use birth control pills or patches regularly to prevent ovulation.
  • You can also prevent ovulation with a contraceptive injection.
  • The gynae can also insert contraceptive implants or intra-uterine devices.

Consider speaking with your partner as well. They may be open to having a vasectomy, which is generally safer than tubal ligation.

Speak With Your Gynae To Make the Right Choice

Tubal ligation is one of the best options for you if you are completely sure that you want a more permanent way to prevent pregnancies. The risk of conceiving is never at zero percent, but it lets you worry less if you are sexually active.

It can be difficult to choose the right kind of birth control that works for your needs. But keep in mind the doctor at your women’s clinic in Singapore is always ready to guide you in making the healthiest decision for you.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/4933-tubal-ligation

https://www.webmd.com/sex/birth-control/tubal-ligation

https://www.healthline.com/health/pregnancy/tubal-ligation

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Emily Teo
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I am a health blogger, helping women gain a healthy body and self-esteem. | Promoting women’s health for more than a decade.