Concierge gynaecology · London
Laparoscopic female sterilisation in London, by a consultant gynaecologist.
Permanent contraception done properly — bilateral salpingectomy or Filshie clips, a full discussion of the reversible alternatives, and a consultant-led day-case theatre either way.
Why patients choose us
- 01
A consultant gynaecologist, in theatre
A named gynaecologist, a proper day-case theatre and a general anaesthetist — not a rushed slot on a public list.
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Alternatives, honestly discussed
The Mirena coil, the implant and your partner’s vasectomy all get airtime before you sign the consent form.
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Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Indicative pricing
What a private laparoscopic sterilisation costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
Laparoscopic sterilisation in our network: £2,400–£4,200, home the same day.
| Procedure | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laparoscopic sterilisation (Filshie clips) | £2,400–£3,600 | 30–45 min | Same-day discharge |
| Bilateral salpingectomy (tubes removed) | £2,800–£4,200 | 30–45 min | Same-day discharge |
| Sterilisation with diagnostic laparoscopy | £3,200–£4,500 | 45–60 min | Same-day discharge |
| Consultation and counselling only | £220–£400 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Mirena coil (reversible alternative) | £450–£850 | 15 min LA | Same visit |
| Partner vasectomy (alternative) | £700–£1,600 | 20 min LA | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by which gynaecologist does the case, and by whether bilateral salpingectomy or clip occlusion is chosen. On the NHS, referral is via your GP and is subject to RCOG-informed eligibility. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A permanent decision deserves a proper conversation.
Since Essure was withdrawn in 2018, laparoscopic sterilisation is the default. That makes the counselling — regret, ectopic risk, and whether a coil, implant or vasectomy is a better fit — the most important part of the appointment.
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Not sure it is permanent enough?
Salpingectomy cannot be reversed; clip reversal is expensive and often fails. If there is any ambivalence, a coil or implant is the better answer.
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Worried about regret?
Regret is highest under 30, in the childless, and when the decision is made at the time of a pregnancy. We slow the process down in those situations.
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Should your partner have a vasectomy instead?
For most couples it is a simpler, cheaper and lower-risk procedure. We say so plainly at the consultation.
The journey
From enquiry to recovery — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review — including the recovery window.
Phase 1 · Before your procedure
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A few hours at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Your age, family, contraceptive history, and how sure you are that the family is complete.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right operation, the alternatives worth thinking about, and an indicative price. If a coil or vasectomy is a better fit, we say so.
- 03
Before
Counselling and consent
A proper conversation about permanence, ectopic risk, regret rates under 30, and why bilateral salpingectomy is now the UK-preferred technique.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the day unit
Arrival, consent and a chat with the gynaecologist and anaesthetist. Fasted from midnight; someone to collect you afterwards.
- 05
On the day
The procedure itself
General anaesthetic, laparoscopy through two or three small ports, tubes identified and occluded or removed. Twenty to forty-five minutes.
- 06
On the day
Home the same day
A few hours of recovery, written aftercare, and home the same day. Shoulder-tip pain from the gas is common for a day or two.
- 07
After
Recovery and review
Back to a desk in one to two weeks, no heavy lifting for four to six. A telephone or in-person review is arranged if needed.
Typical end-to-end: 2–3 weeks from enquiry to procedure. Full healing: 4–6 weeks.
When it helps
When laparoscopic sterilisation is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one profile in whom we will actively slow the decision down.
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Family complete, certain no more children
The core indication — a settled decision by an adult who has weighed alternatives and understands permanence.
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Medical reason to avoid pregnancy
A health condition where a future pregnancy would carry serious risk, and long-acting reversible options are unsuitable.
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Coil not tolerated or not suitable
Repeated expulsions, unmanageable bleeding on a coil, or an anatomical reason a coil cannot be used.
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Hormonal contraception not tolerated
Where the implant, pill and coil have all failed on side-effects or medical grounds.
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Family history of ovarian cancer
A reason many UK gynaecologists now prefer salpingectomy — removing the tubes reduces later ovarian cancer risk by around half.
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Partner’s vasectomy declined or unsuitable
Vasectomy is simpler, cheaper and lower-risk — but if it is off the table for good reason, sterilisation is the alternative.
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Post-caesarean planning
Occasionally combined with a planned caesarean — discussed carefully in advance, never decided in labour.
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Red flag: under 30, childless, or ambivalent
Regret rates are highest in these groups. We will slow the process down and revisit reversible options first.
Procedure options
Sterilisation is not the only option.
What each option on the table actually involves — permanent and reversible — and which fits which situation.
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Bilateral salpingectomy
Both fallopian tubes are removed. Near-zero failure rate and around a 50 percent reduction in future ovarian cancer risk — now the UK-preferred technique.
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Filshie clip occlusion
A small titanium and silicone clip is placed across each tube. Historically standard; failure rate around 0.5 percent at 10 years.
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Falope ring occlusion
A silastic ring is applied to a loop of each tube. An older alternative to clips, used less often in the UK today.
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Tubal cautery (diathermy)
Each tube is coagulated with electric current. Effective but least favoured — reversal is far less likely than with clips.
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Mirena or copper coil (reversible)
A long-acting alternative with over 99 percent effectiveness, reversible in minutes and appropriate for most women — we discuss it first.
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Contraceptive implant (reversible)
A three-year subdermal rod, over 99 percent effective, removable at any time. Worth trying before choosing permanence.
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Partner vasectomy
A shorter procedure under local anaesthetic, lower risk, faster recovery and cheaper. Where possible, the sensible first choice for a couple.
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Consultation and counselling
A proper, unrushed conversation about permanence, regret, ectopic risk and the alternatives — no obligation to proceed.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of gynaecologists, we picked them.
Consultant gynaecologists across central, north, west and south London. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every gynaecologist in our network.
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Consultant gynaecologists, not trainees or general clinicians
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Bilateral salpingectomy offered as first-line, in line with modern UK practice
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Alternatives — coil, implant, vasectomy — routinely discussed before consent
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Day-case theatre with a consultant anaesthetist for every general anaesthetic
Safety and recovery
What to expect — honestly.
Laparoscopic sterilisation is a common day-case procedure. The things worth planning for are permanence, the small ectopic-pregnancy risk if it ever fails, and a fortnight of gentle recovery.
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Sterilisation is intended to be permanent
Reversal is possible with clips but far from guaranteed, expensive, and not offered on the NHS. Salpingectomy cannot be reversed — IVF would be the only route to pregnancy.
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Failure is rare but real
Failure rate is under 0.5 percent at 10 years with clips and near-zero with salpingectomy. If it fails, the risk of an ectopic pregnancy is disproportionately high.
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Ectopic pregnancy warning
Any pregnancy after sterilisation must be assumed ectopic until proven otherwise — a late period after this operation is an urgent scan, not a wait-and-see.
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Surgical risks
Bowel or blood-vessel injury in roughly 1 to 2 per 1,000 laparoscopies; conversion to open surgery is uncommon; small risks of infection and DVT.
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Regret is a real outcome
Around 20 to 30 percent of women sterilised before 30 later regret it, as do many sterilised at the time of a pregnancy. This shapes how we counsel younger patients.
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Recovery is quick, healing is not
Back to a desk in one to two weeks, driving after a week, no heavy lifting or intense exercise for four to six weeks. Shoulder-tip gas pain is normal for a day or two.
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Contraception until confirmed
You are considered sterile from the day of surgery with salpingectomy; with clips, continue contraception until your next period as advised by the surgeon.
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NHS eligibility criteria apply
The NHS route (via your GP) is subject to RCOG-informed eligibility — age, parity and partner discussion — and waits can be long. Private removes the queue, not the decision.
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Red flags
Fever, severe or worsening abdominal pain, spreading redness at a port site, or heavy vaginal bleeding after surgery are reasons to call the clinic or A&E the same day.
Reading your operation note
Your operation note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever technique was used, the note the gynaecologist sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Surgical language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and technique chosen
Why the procedure was done, whether bilateral salpingectomy or clip occlusion was used, and the counselling documented before consent.
- 02 Technique
Laparoscopy and anaesthetic
Number and position of ports, whether the tubes were removed or occluded, blood loss, and any conversion to open surgery.
- 03 Findings
Pelvic findings and histology
Notes on the uterus, ovaries and any incidental findings. If tubes were removed, they are sent for histology and a separate report follows.
- 04 Impression
Recovery, effectiveness, follow-up
Read this first: when you are considered sterile, when to resume normal activity, and what to do if a period is ever late.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Insurer cover for elective sterilisation is limited — most policies exclude contraception, so this is usually a self-pay procedure. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about laparoscopic sterilisation.
Quick answers on permanence, alternatives, ectopic risk, cost and NHS eligibility.
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What is laparoscopic sterilisation?
A permanent method of contraception performed under general anaesthetic through two or three small keyhole ports. The fallopian tubes are either removed (bilateral salpingectomy) or occluded with clips, so eggs and sperm can no longer meet.
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Salpingectomy or Filshie clips — which is better?
Most UK gynaecologists now prefer bilateral salpingectomy: the failure rate is near-zero and removing the tubes reduces later ovarian cancer risk by around 50 percent. Clips remain a reasonable choice — a shade quicker and, in theory, reversible.
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How permanent is it, really?
Treat it as permanent. Salpingectomy cannot be reversed — only IVF would allow pregnancy. Clip reversal is possible for some women but expensive, not NHS-funded and often unsuccessful. If there is any doubt, choose a coil or implant instead.
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What about Essure coils?
Essure (hysteroscopic coils placed through the cervix) was withdrawn worldwide in 2018 following safety concerns. It is no longer offered in the UK, which is why laparoscopic sterilisation is now the default.
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Would my partner’s vasectomy be a better choice?
For most couples, yes. Vasectomy is done under local anaesthetic in 20 minutes, has a lower complication rate, faster recovery, and costs roughly a quarter of laparoscopic sterilisation. We say so plainly at the consultation.
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What are the risks?
Bowel or major-vessel injury in around 1 to 2 per 1,000 laparoscopies, wound infection, DVT, and rare conversion to open surgery. If sterilisation fails, the pregnancy is more likely to be ectopic — a serious risk to be aware of.
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How long does recovery take?
Most women are back to a desk job in one to two weeks and driving after about a week. Avoid heavy lifting and intense exercise for four to six weeks. Shoulder-tip pain from the gas used during laparoscopy usually settles within 48 hours.
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How much does it cost privately in London, and can I get it on the NHS?
Privately, expect £2,400–£3,600 for clip sterilisation and £2,800–£4,200 for bilateral salpingectomy. On the NHS, referral is via your GP and is subject to RCOG-informed eligibility criteria (age, parity, partner discussion) with variable waiting times.