Tubal ligation VS. Vasectomy, what is best for when you have decided not to have more children?
Do they no longer want to have more children? Perhaps your choice is no longer contraceptives but a more definitive and durable method. We consulted Dr. José Gabino Juárez Guzmán, a gynecologist to discuss this issue that usually causes debate among couples once they have decided not to have any more children.
TUBAL LIGATION VS. VASECTOMY, WHAT IS THE BEST FOR WHEN YOU HAVE DECIDED NOT TO HAVE MORE CHILDREN?
What about the side effects of vasectomy, especially the involvement of the patient’s immune system?
This is not true, it is not fully proven. The only adverse effect would be the emotional discomforts that could arise if the patient is not completely convinced, and thus undergoes a vasectomy; some men feel less virile after the operation, but everything is psychological because the vasectomy does not affect their sexual capacity at all.
What do you think of tubal ligation?
This contraceptive method involves much more risks for women than vasectomy for men since it is a procedure that does require hospitalization – although some doctors discharge patients on the same day that they are admitted – and especially when they need much stronger anesthesia for its performance.
Is epidural anesthesia required?
Even when epidural anesthesia is used, which seems so harmless and simple, women are at risk of headaches, nausea, and other discomfort. Outside the operating room, salpingoclasia can lead to future menstrual disorders.
What are the risks of tubal ligation?
- It must be recognized that salpingoclasia or tubal ligation has a low error rate; However, certain techniques, such as the one that involves burning the excess fallopian tube, can cause fistulas through which sperm released by men during sexual intercourse could leak, thus leading to extrauterine pregnancies – outside the uterus -, with the additional risks that this fact implies.
- Finally, as salpingoclasm requires the work of an anesthesiologist and an operating room as a stage, it has the disadvantage of being much more expensive compared to vasectomy.
What are the most used techniques in salpingoclasia?
It is a resource that does not affect any other woman’s organ or interfere with hormonal or menstrual issues. There are several techniques to perform it: that of «Pomeroy», consists of tying the tubes and cutting them; the laparoscopic technique, in which a ring can be used to obstruct the tubes, and the one that involves ligating these and then burning the excess. Those mentioned above are some of the most common and effective techniques.
Are there any side effects on tubal ligation?
- The possible side effects would be:
Pelvic congestion in the days close to menstruation - Increased amount of bleeding
IS SALPINGOCLASIA REVERSIBLE?
Yes, for this a microsurgery is performed, that is, a tubal recanalization that restores the original state of the tubes so that they can play their role again in the fertilization process.
However, recanalization will depend on the technique used during salpingoclasia: if too much tube was cut, recanalization will be more difficult than if it was cut short. On the other hand, the longer it takes after salpingoclasia, the more difficult it will be to achieve a successful recanalization. The ideal time to attempt recanalization is within four to five years of salpingoclasia.
IS A VASECTOMY SAFE?
Vasectomy has, as a contraceptive method, a failure rate of 0.1 percent, which, although low, represents twice the failure rate of tubal ligation.
It is important to talk as a couple and plan your family.
Have you and your partner discussed any of these methods?