Safe access to permanent family planning

Numerous studies have shown that smaller family sizes and well-timed pregnancies lead to reduced rates of maternal and neonatal death, improved health and education levels for mothers and children as well as better family finances. Yet, worldwide, over 220 million women have an unmet need for modern family planning methods and about half of them never want to get pregnant again. Tubal ligation (female sterilisation) is a great option for these women, because it is highly effective and non-hormonal. However, tubal ligation requires surgery, which is a huge access barrier. Surgery is expensive, women can’t work while they recover and most importantly, surgery can be very risky due to poor hygienic conditions in LMICs.

We use the one surgery that most women do have access to: Caesarean section when required for delivery. During this surgery two clips that are placed around the fallopian tubes during the C-section. They have no effect until desired and women can still get pregnant whenever they want. After delivery the mother takes care of her newborn and makes sure that it survives the first critical 6 months of its life. She has ample time to contemplate and discuss permanent sterilisation, so that she can make a well informed decision to activate the clips. Activation is performed by a medical professional and does not require surgery. The fallopian tubes are effectively clamped shut so that no pregnancy can ever occur again, without the disadvantages of a separate sterilisation surgery.