Tubal Ligation Cost – Overview
Tubal ligation, also referred to as “tube tied” is a surgical procedure for female sterilization in which the fallopian tubes are permanently blocked. Once a month, an ovum (egg cell) travels from the ovaries to the uterus to be fertilized by sperm. Blockage of the fallopian tubes prevents the egg and male sperm from connecting thus preventing pregnancy.
Tubal ligation is considered a permanent birth control method with up to 99% effectiveness in preventing pregnancy.
This article will talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the procedure and also, the cost of tubal ligation.
tubal ligation cost
Advantages of Tubal Ligation
There are several ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy ranging from condom use, hysterectomy (the removal of the uterus) and oophorectomy (the removal of both ovaries). Tubal ligation has the following advantages over other birth control methods:
- High effectiveness
Most methods of female tubal ligation are approximately 99% effective or greater in preventing pregnancy.
- High Convenience
Some birth control methods such as oral contraceptive pills or male condoms require active engagement and can be very difficult. Tubal ligation on the other is fixed and permanent and doesn’t require an active response from the user.
- Avoidance of hormonal medications
Many forms of female-controlled contraception rely on suppression of the menstrual cycle using progesterone and/or estrogens. For patients who wish to avoid hormonal medications because of personal medical contraindications such as breast cancer, unacceptable side effects, or personal preference, tubal ligation offers highly effective birth control without the use of hormones.
- Reduction of ovarian and fallopian tube cancer risk
Tubal ligation has been found to reduce the lifetime risk of developing ovarian or fallopian tube cancer later in life even in high-risk individuals.
Disadvantages of Tubal Ligation
- Regret
Tubal ligation is permanent and this may spur regrets in some patients. Regret is more common among patients who are single and younger than 30 years old
- Failure
While tubal ligation procedures are highly effective at preventing pregnancy, there is a small continuing risk of unintended pregnancy after sterilization. The longer the patient has had the procedure the higher the chances of getting pregnant. Also, tubal ligation has a high likelihood of failure in patients who undergo the procedure at a young age.
- Surgical Risks and Complications
Overall, tubal ligation is very safe, and most people don’t have any problems. But all surgeries have some possible risks. Some risks of complication associated with tubal ligation are:
– Bleeding from an incision or inside the abdomen
– Infection
– Damage to other organs inside the abdomen
– Ectopic pregnancy (an egg that becomes fertilized outside the uterus)
You should consult your doctor if you notice any signs of complications after the procedure.
Tubal Ligation Cost
The cost of tubal ligation varies depending on a lot of factors such as location, method of tubal ligation, anesthetic fee, private hospital fee, private operating facility fee.
Also, an health insurance package may be available to cover some or all the cost of tubal ligation. Not only that, the doctor’s office may offer some payments plans.
The total cost of the procedure is around $4500 – $8000.
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