Female sterilisation at Spire Harpenden Hospital

If you decide you don't want to have children in the future, you may wish to consider female sterilisation. In the majority of cases, it is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy, according to clinical sources.

Our patients are at the heart of what we do and we want you to be in control of your care. To us, that means you can choose the consultant you want to see, and when you want. They'll be with you every step of the way.

All of our consultants are of the highest calibre and benefit from working in our modern, well-equipped hospitals.

Our consultants have high standards to meet, often holding specialist NHS posts and delivering expertise in complex sub-specialty surgeries. Many of our consultants have international reputations for their research in their specialised field.

You will have a formal consultation with a healthcare professional. During this time you will be able to explain your medical history, symptoms and raise any concerns that you might have.

We will also discuss with you whether any further diagnostic tests, such as scans or blood tests, are needed. Any additional costs will be discussed before further tests are carried out.

We've tried to make your experience with us as easy and relaxed as possible.

For more information on visiting hours, our food, what to pack if you're staying with us, parking and all those other important practicalities, please visit our patient information pages.

Our dedicated team will also give you tailored advice to follow in the run up to your visit.

We understand that having surgery can potentially be a time of anxiety and worry. Our experienced and caring medical staff will be there for you, holding your hand, every step of the way.

Female sterilisation is usually performed under general anaesthesia, which means you'll be asleep during the procedure and feel no pain. The operation usually takes about 30 minutes.

The procedure is often performed through keyhole surgery, using a narrow, tube-like telescope called a laparoscope. Your surgeon will make a small cut in your abdomen and pass the laparoscope through it to view your uterus and fallopian tubes. Instruments are passed through further small cuts to cut, tie or block the tubes.

Sometimes a larger cut is required to perform female sterilisation, particularly if you have had previous surgery.

Female sterilisation is usually performed as a day case, so you won't need to stay overnight in hospital.

After the procedure, you will be taken from the operating theatre to a recovery room, where you will come round from the anaesthesia under close supervision.

After this, you will be taken to your room or comfortable area where you can rest and recuperate until we feel you’re ready to go home.

Pain relief

You may have some pain, similar to period pains, after the operation. Over the counter painkillers can help with this.

Recovery time

You may experience some bleeding after the procedure and should use a sanitary towel, not a tampon.

After female sterilisation, you should continue to use contraception until your next period.

How your loved ones can help

Once you’re ready to be discharged from hospital, you’ll need to arrange a taxi, friend or family member to take you home as you won’t be able to drive.

Looking after you

Even after you’ve left hospital, we’re still looking after you every step of the way. After female sterilisation, we will provide you with all the appropriate medication, advice on what to do and not to do, and follow-up medical support.

On rare occasions, complications following female sterilisation can occur. If you experience excessive bleeding soon after the operation or an infection, call us straight away. Your consultant will talk to you about the possible risks and complications of having this procedure and how they apply to you.

Although female sterilisation is generally effective, it is still possible that you may become pregnant for up to several years following the procedure. About one in 200 women become pregnant after female sterilisation.

We are committed to delivering excellent individual care and customer service across our network of hospitals, clinics and specialist care centres around the UK. Our dedicated and highly trained team aim to achieve consistently excellent results. For us it's more than just treating patients, it's about looking after people.

Important to note

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.