Study: Chances of pregnancy after tubal ligation higher than previous estimates

Editor's Note

Tubal sterilization, often considered a permanent form of contraception, has a failure rate of 3% to 5%, leading to unplanned pregnancies in some cases, UC San Francisco reported August 27. Publishing in NEJM Evidence, university researchers report that contraceptive arm implants or intrauterine devices (IUDs) may be more reliable for those seeking to avoid future pregnancies.

The study analyzed data from more than 31,000 women, including 4,184 who had undergone tubal sterilization. Researchers found that 2.9% of women sterilized between 2013 and 2015 became pregnant within a year of surgery. The failure rate was highest among younger women.

Sources quoted in the article note the findings come amid a rise in interest in permanent contraception—particularly for patients with diabetes, high blood pressure or other potentially pregnancy-complicating health conditions— since a 2022 Supreme Court decision that limited access to abortion services.