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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Assessment online. A doctor can talk through whether sterilisation suits you and help with recovery questions; the operation is in hospital.
- How well it works: over 99% effective: about 1 in 200 women become pregnant after sterilisation, compared with about 1 in 2,000 after a partner’s vasectomy.
- Hormones and periods: your ovaries and womb stay in place, so your hormones and periods are not affected.
- Contraception: keep using your usual method until the operation and for 7 days afterwards.
- Emergency: call 112 for severe tummy pain, a positive pregnancy test with one-sided pain, or chest pain, breathlessness or a swollen leg after the operation.
After a sterilisation, call 112 or go to an emergency department for severe tummy pain, a high temperature with feeling very unwell, chest pain, breathlessness, or a painful, swollen leg. A positive pregnancy test with one-sided tummy pain at any time after sterilisation is an emergency too.
Can an online doctor help with female sterilisation?
No, sterilisation cannot be done online: it is an operation, usually keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic, carried out in hospital. What a doctor can do by video is talk through whether it is the right choice for you, compare it with the reversible methods that work as well and with a partner’s vasectomy, prepare you for the operation and the contraception around it, and help with recovery questions, telling you when an examination is needed.
How an online consultation helps with sterilisation
- Is it right for you?: How permanent it is, the reversible methods that work as well, and a partner’s vasectomy.
- What to expect: Keyhole surgery, the anaesthetic, and the days and weeks afterwards.
- Contraception around the operation: What to use before and for 7 days after, and when to have a coil removed.
- Help afterwards: Pain, wound problems and bleeding, and which signs need an examination.
What the doctor checks in an online sterilisation consultation
The doctor asks about any warning signs first, then about your plans and your health. The doctor asks about:
- Warning signs after the operation: severe or worsening pain, a high temperature, wound problems, heavy bleeding, or a chance of pregnancy.
- Your plans: whether you are sure you do not want children, or any more children, in the future.
- Your situation: your age, whether you have children, and whether you are deciding at a stressful time, such as after a birth, a loss or a break-up.
- Your health: earlier operations on the tummy, blood clots, bleeding problems, and your weight, which affect the operation.
- Your periods: heavy or painful periods, which sterilisation does not help, while some other methods can.
- Your contraception now: what you use, so that you stay covered until 7 days after the operation.
Before the call, write down your questions. If you have had the operation, note the date, the type of operation if you know it, and any symptoms since.
What is female sterilisation, and how is it done?
Female sterilisation is permanent contraception: the fallopian tubes, which carry eggs from the ovaries to the womb, are blocked with clips or rings, cut and sealed, or removed, so sperm and an egg cannot meet. You still release eggs, which the body absorbs.
- Keyhole surgery (laparoscopy): the usual method. The surgeon makes 2 or 3 small cuts near the belly button, fills the tummy with gas to see clearly, and blocks or removes the tubes. It takes 20 to 30 minutes.
- Mini-laparotomy: used when keyhole surgery is not possible, through a slightly larger cut below the bikini line.
- Anaesthetic: usually general. A pregnancy test is done on the day.
- Going home: most people go home on the day of the operation, and need someone to take them home and stay overnight.
- At a caesarean: sterilisation can be done during a caesarean section, but a gap of several weeks after a birth or an abortion is usually advised before deciding.
Tubes tied, or tubes removed?
Sterilisation can be done by removing both fallopian tubes, a salpingectomy, rather than blocking them. Research suggests many ovarian cancers start in the fallopian tubes, so removing them can significantly reduce the risk of ovarian cancer, although not to zero. The ovaries stay in place, and removal cannot be reversed.
How effective is female sterilisation?
Over 99% effective, although it can rarely fail: about 1 in 200 women become pregnant after sterilisation. If a pregnancy does happen, it is more likely to be ectopic, outside the womb.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Female sterilisation | Partner’s vasectomy | Implant or coil | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How often it fails | About 1 in 200 | About 1 in 2,000 | Fewer than 1 in 100 a year |
| Anaesthetic | Usually general | Usually local | Local, if any |
| Works from | 7 days after; keep using contraception until then | A clear semen test, about 12 weeks later | Straight away or within 7 days, by type |
| Reversible | Not reliably; removal of the tubes cannot be reversed | Not reliably | Yes, when removed |
Long-acting reversible methods such as the implant, the hormonal coil and the copper coil are about as effective as sterilisation and can be stopped. A partner’s vasectomy is a simpler operation and fails less often.
Does getting your tubes tied affect hormones or periods?
No. Your ovaries, womb and cervix stay in place, so your hormones are not affected, you still ovulate, and your periods carry on as before. Your sex drive should not change.
If you were using hormonal contraception before, your periods may change after you stop it, for example becoming heavier, because the hormones were controlling them. This usually improves after a few months. Sterilisation does not stop periods, so if heavy or painful periods are a problem, the hormonal coil may suit you better.
Is sterilisation painful, and how long is recovery?
You are asleep for the operation. Afterwards, it is normal to feel sore and uncomfortable for a few days, with some slight vaginal bleeding, and to feel tired after the general anaesthetic. Recovery depends on the type of operation:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Keyhole surgery | Mini-laparotomy | |
|---|---|---|
| Time off work | About 7 days | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Heavy lifting, exercise and sport | Avoid for 7 days | Avoid for 4 to 6 weeks |
| Sex | Avoid for at least 7 days | Follow the hospital’s advice |
| Driving | When you can wear a seat belt and do an emergency stop without pain | Can take up to 6 weeks |
| Contraception | Keep using it for 7 days; a coil can be removed after 7 days | The same |
Risks, side effects and the pros and cons
Most people have no complications, and those that happen are usually minor. The serious risks are rare: blood clots, an infection, and an ectopic pregnancy if the sterilisation fails. A general anaesthetic can also leave you feeling unwell for a few days.
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Permanent: nothing to remember, ever | Meant to be permanent, and reversal does not always work |
| Over 99% effective | An operation, usually under general anaesthetic |
| No effect on hormones or periods | Contraception still needed until 7 days after |
| Removing the tubes may lower the risk of ovarian cancer | If it fails, a pregnancy is more likely to be ectopic |
| No hormones, so it suits people who cannot use them | No protection against sexually transmitted infections |
Who is more likely to regret it?
Regret is more likely if you are under 30, have no children or are not in a relationship, and decisions made under stress, such as after a birth, a miscarriage, an abortion or a break-up, are best put off. Younger people may be offered extra counselling.
Can female sterilisation be reversed?
Not reliably. Reversal is a difficult operation that does not always work, and it is rarely available on the NHS in the UK. When the tubes have been removed, it cannot be reversed at all.
What might the doctor recommend about sterilisation?
This is the framework the doctors use:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| What you have | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| You are sure you want no more children | Counselling on permanence and alternatives, then a referral | Yes, to assess | For the operation |
| You are under 30, have no children, or are unsure | Time to decide, and reversible methods discussed | Yes | Not needed for now |
| You also have heavy or painful periods | The hormonal coil discussed as an option | Yes | For a fitting |
| Soreness and tiredness in the first days | Rest, painkillers and advice | Yes | If it gets worse |
| Redness, pus or a high temperature after the operation | A check for infection | Partly | Promptly, for an examination |
| A positive pregnancy test after sterilisation | Urgent assessment for an ectopic pregnancy | No | Urgently; call 112 for pain or fainting |
| Chest pain, breathlessness or a swollen leg after the operation | Emergency care | No | Call 112 now |
Wondering whether sterilisation is right for you? A doctor can talk it through in one consultation.
See available times →Sterilisation: practical steps and options
What you can do yourself
- Take time over the decision, away from a stressful time, and talk it through with your partner if you have one.
- Keep using your contraception until the operation and for 7 days afterwards; a coil can be removed after 7 days.
- Arrange for someone to take you home and stay with you overnight.
- Plan about a week off work after keyhole surgery.
- Use condoms for protection against sexually transmitted infections.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. The operation is done in hospital, but around it the doctor may prescribe contraception to cover you until 7 days afterwards, recommend pain relief, and tell you when a wound problem needs examining. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
Deciding straight after a birth, a loss or a break-up. Stopping contraception before the operation. Expecting sterilisation to improve heavy or painful periods.
Special situations
In your 40s
Fertility falls with age, and contraception can usually stop around the menopause. A long-acting method may cover you until then without an operation: the contraception in perimenopause page explains the options and when you can stop.
After a birth
Sterilisation can be done at a caesarean, but waiting several weeks after a birth is usually advised before deciding. Contraception is needed from 21 days after giving birth.
Living or travelling abroad
Keep a copy of the operation note, including whether the tubes were blocked or removed: it matters if you ever have symptoms of pregnancy or tummy pain.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When sterilisation is assessed online, and when you need in-person care
Assessed online: deciding whether sterilisation is right for you, comparing it with other methods, preparing for the operation and the contraception around it, and recovery questions.
In-person care: the operation, examinations for wound problems, pain or bleeding, and any pregnancy after sterilisation.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- severe tummy pain, or a high temperature with feeling very unwell, after the operation
- chest pain, sudden breathlessness, or a painful, swollen leg
- a positive pregnancy test with pain low in the tummy on one side, fainting or feeling very dizzy
Get medical advice the same day for:
- redness, swelling, pus or bleeding from a wound
- a high temperature after the operation
- pain that painkillers do not help, or that is getting worse
- a positive pregnancy test, or pregnancy symptoms, after sterilisation
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CEST. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about sterilisation: say what you want to know or what you have noticed, and, if you have had the operation, when and how it was done.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to take and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Noticed a new symptom since your sterilisation? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Similar symptoms, different condition? Vasectomy can start the same way. Compare them, or look up any other symptom in the full symptom checker.
Frequently asked questions about female sterilisation
What is female sterilisation?
Female sterilisation is permanent contraception in which the fallopian tubes are blocked, cut and sealed, or removed, so sperm and an egg cannot meet. It is usually done by keyhole surgery under general anaesthetic.
How effective is female sterilisation?
Over 99% effective: about 1 in 200 women become pregnant after female sterilisation, and the pregnancy can happen years afterwards, not only in the first year. A partner’s vasectomy fails less often, about 1 in 2,000, which is one reason it is often suggested as the alternative.
Does getting your tubes tied affect hormones?
No. After sterilisation your ovaries stay in place, so your hormones are not affected and you still ovulate as before; the egg is simply absorbed by the body. Your sex drive should not change either.
Does getting your tubes tied stop periods?
No, your periods carry on after sterilisation. If you stopped hormonal contraception at the same time, your periods may change, for example becoming heavier, and this usually improves after a few months.
Is getting your tubes removed painful?
You are asleep for the sterilisation operation. Afterwards you can expect soreness and some slight bleeding for a few days, and to feel tired. Most people are back at work after about a week of keyhole surgery.
How long is recovery after female sterilisation?
After keyhole sterilisation, about 7 days off work and no heavy lifting, sport or sex for 7 days. After a mini-laparotomy, 2 to 4 weeks off work and no heavy lifting for 4 to 6 weeks.
What can I do at home to recover after sterilisation?
After keyhole sterilisation, rest for the first day or two, then move about gently; take paracetamol or ibuprofen for soreness; keep the small wounds clean and dry until they have healed; avoid heavy lifting, sport and sex for 7 days; and keep using your contraception for 7 days. Drive again only when you can wear a seat belt and do an emergency stop without pain. Shoulder-tip pain from the gas used in the operation is common and passes within a few days.
What are the signs of a problem after sterilisation?
Get medical advice without delay after sterilisation for a high temperature, a wound that becomes red, swollen, hot or leaks pus, bleeding that soaks through dressings, pain that gets worse instead of better, a swollen painful leg or sudden breathlessness, which can mean a blood clot, or heavy vaginal bleeding. Later on, a missed period, a positive pregnancy test or one-sided tummy pain needs urgent assessment, because a pregnancy after sterilisation is more likely to be ectopic.
What are the pros and cons of getting your tubes tied?
Female sterilisation is permanent, over 99% effective and does not affect hormones or periods. But it is an operation, usually under general anaesthetic, reversal does not always work, and it does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.
Can female sterilisation be reversed?
Not reliably. Reversing sterilisation is a difficult operation that does not always work, and if the tubes were removed it cannot be reversed. Long-acting methods such as the implant or a coil are as effective and can be stopped.
Can you get pregnant after being sterilised?
Rarely: about 1 in 200 women. If it happens, the pregnancy is more likely to be ectopic, so a positive test after sterilisation needs urgent medical assessment.
Is a vasectomy better than female sterilisation?
For a couple, a vasectomy is a simpler operation, usually under local anaesthetic, and fails less often. Female sterilisation works from 7 days after the operation, while a vasectomy needs a clear semen test first.
Can an online doctor help with sterilisation?
Yes, with everything except the operation: whether sterilisation suits you, the alternatives, preparing for it, the contraception around it, recovery questions, and which problems afterwards need an examination.
- What is female sterilisation?, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 14 February 2024.
- Female sterilisation, NHS 111 Wales (UK), updated 31 July 2025.
- Your guide to male and female sterilisation, FPA, the sexual health charity, published by NHS Fife (UK), June 2015.
- Opportunistic bilateral salpingectomy, Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, NHS Wales, patient leaflet, June 2024.
- Which methods are best at preventing pregnancy?, Contraception Choices, College of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (UK), accessed 15 October 2026.
- Ectopic pregnancy, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 23 August 2022.
- IUD: who can get it, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 15 February 2024.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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