Deciding to undergo a female sterilisation is not a decision to be made lightly as it is considered to be a permanent method of contraception. It is something that requires a lot of thought, and if you do choose to go ahead with the procedure, you should feel comfortable with the fact that your family is complete.
That is why if you fall pregnant after having a sterilisation, it will come as a significant shock to you. It will also present you with some very difficult decisions, as you will have to choose whether or not to proceed with the pregnancy.
If you have found yourself in this position, we understand how upset and angry you will be feeling. After all, sterilisation is labelled a permanent method of contraception; you certainly to do not expect to find that you have conceived shortly afterwards.
How does a sterilisation fail?
So how exactly does a sterilisation fail? There are various ways in which this can happen, including negligent and non-negligent reasons. The primary non-negligent reason is recanalization. This is when the fallopian tubes naturally join back together. It a known risk of sterilisation and there is nothing that can be done to prevent it. However, recanalization normally takes a number of years. So if you have fallen pregnant a long time after having had a sterilisation, it is likely that this is the cause.
But if you have conceived some months or a year after the procedure, it is possible that medical error is at play. Ordinarily, this will be because the surgeon has failed to put a clip in the right place. During a sterilisation, a clip is attached to each fallopian tube, thereby blocking the path of the egg travelling from the ovary to the uterus. Photos should then be taken to ensure this clips have been put in the correct place. But sometimes a surgeon will attach a clip to the wrong structure, such as a ligament. A woman will therefore remain able to conceive.
Medical negligence will also be to blame if a woman was actually pregnant at the time of the procedure. Medical professionals must carry out a pregnancy test before the operation to ensure this is not the case. If a woman is found to be pregnant sterilisation must be delayed, as it will not be safe to proceed.
Has your sterilisation failed?
If your sterilisation has failed, you need to know what options are available to you, as it may be that medical negligence is to blame for your current situation. To find out if this is the case, get in touch with us at 1stClaims to speak to a solicitor, as you could be entitled to medical negligence compensation.
