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Medical Author:

Avi J Sklar, MD, FACOG, FACS, FRCSC

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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As with any surgery, there is always a risk when you are given general anesthesia. You may have a bad reaction to the medication used. Surgery itself may present problems with bleeding or infection. However, tubal ligation is considered to be a very safe procedure with an overall complication rate of less than 1%.

There is still a chance you may become pregnant after tubal ligation. About 1 in 200 women become pregnant who have their tubes tied. This may be caused by an incomplete closure of the tubes. If pregnancy occurs after the procedure, you are at increased risk for an ectopic pregnancy in which the pregnancy develops in the Fallopian tubes. An ectopic pregnancy may be dangerous and requires emergent medical care.

Because the procedure is performed by tiny instruments inserted into your abdomen, you may have injury to other organs in your body.

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