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- $Unique_ID{BRK01590}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Female Sterilization Procedure}
- $Subject{sterilization tube surgery Pregnancy Childbirth pregnancies children
- sterilized Fallopian tubes uterus egg tube ovary fertilizes blocked cut
- fertilization hormone birth control sterilizations surgeries ovaries hormones
- contraceptive contraceptives contraception contraceptions fertility
- infertility infertile fertile sterile sterility}
- $Volume{K-14}
- $Log{
- Location and Function of the Endocrine Glands*0002901.scf
- The Ovaries*0002909.scf
- Anatomy of the Female Reproductive System*0006101.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
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- Female Sterilization Procedure
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- QUESTION: Could you please describe the procedure a woman must have in order
- to prevent further pregnancies? I need to find a method that will give me
- some assurance that my family will not continue to get bigger, as I already
- have 8 children. Will you please help me?
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- ANSWER: If a woman decides that she does not want any more children, she can
- choose to be sterilized, which involves blocking the Fallopian tubes, the two
- hollow arms on either side of the uterus. Each month an egg moves down one of
- these tubes from the ovary to the uterus, and it is within the tube that a
- sperm fertilizes the egg. If the tube is blocked or cut, the egg and sperm
- are kept apart and fertilization does not take place. Female sterilization
- has no effect on hormone levels. A sterilized woman's periods still occur
- regularly until menopause.
- There are several ways to block the tubes; cutting them is only one
- method. The tubes can be shut with a small plastic clip or rubber band or a
- loop of each tube can be tied off and then cut. Another procedure uses a
- small electrical device to burn a small portion of both tubes, which then heal
- shut. Sterilization can be done at any time either in a hospital or in a
- clinic and may be performed right after childbirth.
- Female sterilization is a permanent and almost perfect form of birth
- control. It is called permanent because it cannot be easily reversed. If a
- woman changes her mind about the procedure, there are operations that can be
- done to reconnect or open the blocked tubes, but there is no guarantee they
- will work. After sterilization, there is the possibility that the tubes can
- heal and reopen and a pregnancy can occur, but there is far less chance of
- this happening than of any other form of birth control to fail.
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- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
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