Laparoscopic Sterilisation

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Laparoscopic sterilisation is performed to provide permanent contraception for women who wish to have no more children

What is a laparoscopic sterilisation?

Laparoscopy is an operation, usually performed as a day case, with a general anaesthetic, when a telescope is passed through an incision in your umbilicus (belly button) to look at your womb, tubes, ovaries and other pelvic structures. Before the telescope is passed into your abdomen, the abdominal cavity is distended with a gas to let the tummy wall move away from your bowel, bladder and blood vessels.

A second incision above the pubic bone is necessary to allow the doctor performing the operation to place a clip over each tube. These clips block the tubes and stop the sperm from meeting the egg, preventing fertilisation.

The clips remain in your pelvis unless they are subsequently surgically removed.  At the time of the procedure, the womb may be moved by passing a small manipulator through the cervix into the womb cavity, this allows the tubes to be more clearly visualised. At the end of the procedure, the gas used to distend your abdomen is removed and a stitch is placed in each of the incisions in the skin on your abdomen. 

What should I expect following a laparoscopy?

Most laparoscopies are performed as day case procedures, so you should be fit for discharge on the evening of the procedure.  You will have some mild abdominal pain, particularly at the site of the incisions on your abdomen.

In addition, you may have pan in the shoulder tips, this is referred pain and is caused by the gas used to distend your abdomen irritating the underside of the diaphragm. The plasters covering the incisions should be left on for two days. Thereafter, you can bathe or shower as normal.

Some sutures will be dissolving, but others may require to be removed after about 5 days. You may have some mild bleeding from the vagina for a few days after the procedure.

 

If you develop redness or pain around the wound sites, they may be infected and you should consult your general practitioner to determine if you need a course of antibiotics. Similarly, if you experience severe pain or vaginal discharge following the procedure, you should contact your general practitioner or the gynae clinic/admissions department immediately to discuss your condition with a doctor.