How Much Does Tubal Ligation Cost?

Tubal ligation is the most common form of birth control worldwide. Nearly 30% of U.S. women have had a tubal ligation by age 44. For people who are certain that they do not want to become pregnant in the future, tubal ligation can be the ideal birth control solution. 

Tubal ligation — also known as female sterilization or “tying tubes” — is a surgical procedure that cuts, ties, or closes your fallopian tubes so that no eggs can be fertilized. This leaves the ovaries intact, so it doesn’t affect your natural hormones or menopause.

Tubal ligation is more expensive and invasive than male sterilization, also known as a vasectomy. While tubal ligation is more than 99% effective in preventing pregnancy, it does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.

For anyone who thinks there is even a small chance they will want children, there are other effective and long-acting methods of birth control available. As with any surgical procedure, there are other factors to consider beyond costs, including risks to your health.

Are there different types of tubal ligation? 

Yes, there are different types of tubal ligation. One main difference is how and when the procedure is performed.

First, you may have a traditional tubal ligation or a laparoscopic tubal ligation, which is less invasive.

Read more like this

Explore these related articles, suggested for readers like you.

What to Know About Birth Control If You Aren’t Cisgender

Does Vasectomy Reversal Work If You Change Your Mind?

10 Risks You Should Know About Before Getting a Vasectomy

Hysterectomy: A Comprehensive Procedure Guide

View more

Second, the procedure may happen at different times in your reproductive journey, such as:

• Shortly after a vaginal birth

• Shortly after a Cesarean or C-section (when the abdomen is open and the tubes are exposed)

• After an abortion

• At another time

In addition to tubal ligation, there are other procedures that remove or block your fallopian tubes. All also are considered permanent birth control. 

The primary alternative to tubal ligation in the U.S. is salpingectomy. This surgery removes the fallopian tubes. This procedure is also called tubal removal and bilateral salpingectomy.

The procedure you have — and if you have surgery shortly after giving birth — can affect the price.

Requirements to get tubal ligation

The primary requirement for getting tubal ligation is the desire for permanent sterilization. For anyone who thinks there is even a chance they will want to bear children, other long-acting, effective methods of birth control are available. As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. You will need to consult with a medical provider to know for sure if you are a candidate for tubal ligation.

How much does a tubal ligation typically cost?

A tubal ligation can range from about $2,000 to more than $5,000. Having the procedure at Planned Parenthood can cost from zero to $6,000, including follow-up visits.

Can a person with health insurance have a tubal ligation without meeting a deductible or other out-of-pocket costs? Actually, yes.

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services alongside other federal agencies clarified the Affordable Care Act (ACA) mandate about preventive care benefits. ACA marketplace plans and most other commercial insurance plans must cover birth control without a copay or coinsurance — even if you haven’t met your annual deductible. This includes sterilization procedures such as a tubal ligation.

Typically, your out-of-pocket costs for a tubal ligation will be limited the most if you have insurance and use in-network providers.

For actual examples, we consulted a new claims database in Washington State that includes payer data from 30 commercial health payers, the state Medicaid program, Medicare Advantage and some Medicare HMO plans. For laparoscopic tubal ligation, the price ranged from $6,282 to $14,971 in 2020. Bills were lower at outpatient clinics versus hospitals.

Prices vary based on when you have the procedure, such as postpartum, and where you have the procedure — an ambulatory surgery center versus outpatient hospital care.

Typically, a tubal ligation is performed by a team of medical professionals, including:

• Surgeon

• Surgical assistant

• Scrub technician

• Anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist

Unless you have a flat fee for your tubal ligation, your bill often will show multiple charges including:

• Consultation fees

• Anesthesia fees

• Surgeon’s fees

• Hospital or surgical facility costs

• Medical tests

• Post-surgery garments

• Prescriptions for medication

• Follow-up care

What are the self-pay costs?

Let’s delve more into self-pay costs.

A 2021 analysis found that median costs for laparoscopic tubal ligation range from $2,880 to $5,163.

Some price comparison websites for facilities across the country also show services falling in this range. For instance, Clinic Price Check shows the cash-pay prices for a tubal ligation near Beverly Hills, California at about $3,000 to $4,000.

The Good Faith Estimate tool for Memorial Hermann, a large hospital system in the Houston area, calculates a cost range of $6,145 to $9,218 for a woman 40 years old without insurance.

MD Save, a price-shopping tool for people without insurance or those who have high-deductible health plans, offers national cash-pay prices ranges for two types of tubal ligation:

• Tubal ligation (Laparoscopic): $5,100 to $12,048, with a national average of $8,427

• Tubal ligation or occlusion (Non-laparoscopic): $3,658 to $6,959, with a national average of $5,295

Does insurance cover tubal ligation?

Original Medicare does not cover sterilization to prevent reproduction. Tubal ligation may be covered in rare cases when the procedure is deemed medically necessary — such as an effective treatment for disease. Some Medicare Advantage plans may cover the procedure.

According to a 2021 Kaiser Family Foundation survey, most state Medicaid programs cover tubal ligation and other voluntary sterilization procedures for people who meet certain federal criteria. A few state Medicaid programs don’t cover tubal ligation right after giving birth, so check your coverage.

The ACA requires health insurance plans to cover birth control methods approved by the FDA, including permanent sterilization procedures such as tubal ligation. But, there are a few exceptions for health insurance provided by religious organizations that object to contraception coverage.

What you pay out of pocket will depend on your coverage, your deductible, and your care. For instance, if you have a high deductible insurance plan, the cost of tubal ligation might not exceed your deductible. That means you will be responsible for the total cost. Also, if you have your tubal ligation in a hospital, your insurance might require you to pay 20% of the cost, for instance, in coinsurance.

Is tubal ligation worth it?

Tubal ligation may be very worthwhile for you if you want a permanent form of birth control that is highly effective. This option also may be right for you if you prefer to preserve your ovaries so that you do not affect your natural hormones or menopause.

Over time, tubal ligation is more economical than other forms of less-effective birth control, such as birth control pills or a vaginal ring.

But, tubal ligation is surgery, so there are risks. They include:

• Incomplete closure of the tubes; fewer than 1% of women who have a tubal ligation, 1 in 200, get pregnant afterward

• Higher risk of ectopic pregnancy (if this occurs after tubal ligation)

• Bleeding or infection from the procedure

• Damage to nearby organs and tissues from surgical instruments

And while you will no longer need birth control, a tubal ligation will not protect you from sexually transmitted infections. For safer sex, you will need to use barrier methods such as condoms.

Risk factors for regret

There are several risk factors for regret after tubal ligation, which include:

• Age (younger than 30)

• Making the decision alone

• Insufficient counseling about the permanence of sterilization

• Changes in partner or marital status

• Gynecologic or menstrual problems

How long does a tubal ligation last?

Tubal ligation is considered permanent birth control. Sometimes, tubal ligation can be reversed through a process that is often complicated and expensive. There are several types of reversal surgeries, but there is no guarantee a reversal will be successful. Some people can use in vitro fertilization (IVF) to get pregnant after tubal ligation.

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Sheila Miller Edwards, PhD

Sheila Miller Edwards, PhD, is a writer, editor, mathematician, and teacher living in northern New Mexico.

Edited by:

Cindy George, MPH

Cindy George is the senior personal finance editor at GoodRx. She is an endlessly curious health journalist and digital storyteller.

Our editorial standards

Meet our experts