- Ideally performed within 48 hours
after delivery
- May be performed immediately
following delivery or during
cesarean section
- If not performed within 1 week of delivery,
delay 4 to 6 week
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Thoroughly counsel clients in advance
and obtain informed consent
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For women who do not want more children, female sterilization
is a safe and effective nonhormonal postpartum contraceptive
option. Ideally, the procedure is performed not immediately
but within the first 48 hours postpartum, after the woman has
recovered from delivery, and the health and survival of the
newborn is more certain than immediately after delivery.
However, surgical sterilization can also be performed immediately
following a vaginal delivery if the woman has selected this
method in advance. Scheduling sterilization to coincide with
delivery may be appropriate if the woman has limited contact
with the health-care system. Sterilization can also be performed
at the time of cesarean section.
If sterilization is not performed within a week postpartum,
it should be delayed until four to six weeks postpartum when
the uterus returns to its normal size and the fallopian tubes
are easier to locate.
If sterilization is to be performed at the time of delivery
or during cesarean section, providers should counsel the client
thoroughly and obtain informed consent during the prenatal period
– well before the woman gives birth. Counseling should
never be conducted during the stress of labor or delivery. Providers
must be sure that clients realize that female sterilization
is permanent in order to help avoid regret. However, they should
also inform clients that – as with all methods – there
is a small risk of contraceptive failure.
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