Side-effects

The side effects of sterilisation are primarily those of the surgical procedure- i.e. risks of the anaesthetic, possible infection, possible bowel damage if electrocautery employed.

There is an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy should the procedure fail - occurring in about 0.4 per 100 women per year. A woman undergoing sterilisation must be counselled upon the necessity to have a pregnancy test if she should miss a period, and, if positive, of the requirement for an early scan to assess whether there is an intrauterine pregnancy.

Periods may appear heavier following sterilisation. This may be because the woman had been previously taking the oral contraceptive pill which often makes periods lighter.

Notes:

Complications of Filshie clip application that have been reported include: (1)

• pelvic pain and intraperitoneal migration into the bladder, appendix and vagina
• extraperitoneal migration of the clip - this is an extremely rare complication

Reference:

1. Gad N, Aziz R, Siwicki K. Filshie clip migration into wall of urinary bladder presenting with acute abdominal pain. Case report and review of English literature: From 1990 to April 2009. Pelviperineology 2010;29:84–7