Female sterilization is one of the most common gynaecological procedures performed in Canada. In a 12-month period in 2009-2010 there were 24,023 tubal ligations performed in Canada. Tubal ligation was the third most common gynaecological procedure to provoke litigation, involving 15 percent of cases and 12 percent of costs associated with gynaecology cases. Written by Paul Martyn and Valerie Prather and published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Canada 2012; 34(7): 683-687.