If you’re considering the permanent birth control of getting your tubes tied, you will want to know what you should and shouldn’t do after the procedure so you can get back to your normal activities. Tubal ligation is a form of sterilization that blocks or cuts the fallopian tubes. It leaves the ovaries intact, which some consider beneficial for hormonal balance. Tubal ligation aftercare includes basic post-surgical care.
Getting Your Tubes Tied
Tubal ligation is a minimally invasive surgery that can take place after giving birth or as a separate procedure. It can be performed immediately following a C-section birth using the incision that was created for the baby. It can also be performed following a vaginal birth by making small incisions in your lower abdomen and using laparoscopic tools to access the fallopian tubes. Tubal ligation aftercare will depend on how the procedure is performed.
Learn more about laparoscopic tubal ligation from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
Tubal Ligation Restrictions
Avoid the following activities after a tubal ligation procedure:
- Driving for 24 hours
- Lifting for a week or two
- Drinking alcohol for 24 hours
- Intercourse for a week or two
- Swimming/bathing for two weeks
Because the procedure will require an anesthetic or spinal pain block, you will need to avoid driving and drinking alcoholic beverages for a day after the surgery. Lifting should also be very limited. If you just had a baby, lift only your baby for a few weeks!
With laparoscopic tubal ligation surgery, small incisions will be present. The stitches will likely dissolve naturally, and the wounds should be small. Basic wound care will be required, and the incisions should be kept clean so they can heal. Showering is fine, but be sure to dry incisions carefully and completely. Avoid having sex for at least a week or two, depending on your healing progress and your OBGYN’s directions.
What to Expect After Tubal Ligation
Getting your tubes tied is a pretty minor surgical procedure compared to childbirth. However, it may have some discomfort associated with it, including gas, nausea, swelling, and aches.
The procedure often uses carbon dioxide gas to inflate the abdomen, making the fallopian tubes easier to see. The surgical team removes as much of that gas as possible. Any remaining gas will dissipate, but it can cause discomfort throughout your body. If your neck, shoulders, or chest aches, try applying a heating pad or walking to ease the discomfort. This type of discomfort should only last a few days at most. If it lasts longer, be sure to tell your doctor.
Other aftercare may include eating lightly to relieve nausea and taking over-the-counter pain medication for swelling and pain. Resting for a day or two will help you recover more quickly.
If you have questions about tubal ligation or other birth control methods, be sure to ask your doctor at West Des Moines OBGYN Associates. As women, our physicians and staff are empathetic to your concerns about your health and family planning. For an appointment in West Des Moines, Indianola, or Ankeny, please contact us.
