A new experimental technique could allow women to be sterilized without surgery. According to an article from the Washington Post , published in the Detroit News , current methods of permanent sterilization require surgery and general anesthesia. The new method, called selective tubal occlusion procedure, can be performed in 15 to 20 minutes with little or no local anesthesia. Like tubal ligation, a commonly used method of sterilization for women, STOP prevents eggs from moving through the fallopian tubes, the article says.
Tubal ligation involves cutting and tying the tubes.
STOP creates scar tissue that seals off the tubes. The operation uses an instrument like a coil that is inserted into the fallopian tubes and expands. In about 12 weeks, normal scar tissue grows and blocks the tube. Doctors say the procedure's main side effect is that it can cause cramping, and is about as difficult as placing an IUD in the uterus. STOP is permanent.