Hysteroscopic sterilisation by tubal cannulation and placement of intrafallopian implant

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on hysteroscopic sterilisation by tubal cannulation and placement of intrafallopian implant in August 2004. NICE has reviewed this guidance and is reassessing the procedure. New guidance will be published as a result.  Until the new guidance is published the NHS should continue to follow the recommendations in the guidance below.

The Interventional Procedures Advisory Committee (IPAC) has considered this procedure and NICE has issued a consultation document about its safety and efficacy. Consultation has now ended. IPAC will consider the consultation comments and produce a Final Interventional Procedures Document, which will be considered by NICE before guidance is issued to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The consultation period for this procedure closed on the 24 March 2009.

If you wish to be updated to any developments with this procedure, you can express an interest here..

Sterilisation results in the inability to conceive children naturally. It is sometimes chosen as a method of birth control and is usually permanent. In women, hysteroscopic sterilisation by tubal cannulation and placement of intrafallopian implants is used to block the fallopian tubes, with the aim of preventing the eggs from reaching the womb and becoming fertilised. The procedure is performed by passing a small camera and tube (hysteroscope) through the vagina and cervix. A very small piece of metal, called a microinsert, is placed into each fallopian tube using specialised narrow surgical instruments that are passed through the hysteroscope. The presence of the microinserts causes scar tissue to form in the fallopian tubes, which eventually blocks them.

Special

Gynaecology, pregnancy and birth
Surgical procedures

General surgery
Obstetrics and gynaecology

Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists

Royal College of General Practitioners

Interventional Procedures Programme
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
MidCity Place
71 High Holborn
London
WC1V 6NA