Salpingectomyis the removal of one or both of thefallopian tubesthat results in female sterilization.
By removing this structure, it becomes almost physically impossible to become pregnant without in vitro fertilization.
What Is Salpingectomy?
Georgiy Datsenko / Getty Images
This surgery is not usually emergent, unless a patient is experiencing an ectopic pregnancy.
How Common Is Female Sterilization in the United States?
This equates to an estimated 600,000 surgical sterilizations performed annually in the United States.
Potential Risks
The risks of laparoscopic salpingectomy are minimal and depend on the approach.
Most of the risks are related togeneral anesthesia.
When patients are believed to have ovarian or uterine cancer, surgery is one way to diagnose the cancer.
Also during surgery, samples of lymph nodes will be taken.
How to Prepare
This procedure will be scheduled through your doctors office in advance.
Choosing to have salpingectomy surgery for sterilization is considered elective, as there are other ways to prevent pregnancy.
The surgeon will determine if medications that cause increased bleeding should be continued or stopped.
What to Bring
Bring a photo ID and your insurance cards on the day of the surgery.
A support person will be required to drive you home from the hospital.
wise to stop smoking at least four weeks prior to surgery to mitigate complications.
Patients will remove their clothes and jewelry, and change into a surgical patient gown.
Documents such as surgical and anesthesia consents will be reviewed and signed.
The anesthesia team will complete another thorough assessment to determine any risks to undergoing general anesthesia.
An IV (intravenous) catheter will be placed to provide any medications that will be needed during surgery.
As with any surgery, there will be pain following surgery.
Recovery
Most people return back to normal activities and routines within a week.
A Word From Verywell
Salpingectomy surgery results in sterilization, but it can also remove cancerous tissue.
While the procedure is minimally invasive, it does carry small amounts of risk.
Tubal sterilization does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.
Women undergoing this surgery should carefully consider the consequences of permanent sterilization to prevent sterilization regret.
Marino S, Canela CD, Nama N.Tubal sterilization.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.Sterilization by laparoscopy.
