Follow the following steps:

• Perform pregnancy test
• Pap smear
• Urinalysis
• Screening for STD
• Ultrasound of the pelvis if there is suspicion of any pelvic mass on physical exam

Approaches

Hysteroscopy offers the advantage of the ability to perform in the office setting with minimal to no sedation with a paracervical block and avoidance of incisions and intra-abdominal entry with its attendant risks.[16] It involves hysteroscopic placement of nickel-titanium coils into the tubal ostia.[17] Occlusion of the tubes occurs with tissue growth and scarring from inflammation induced by the coils.[17] Three months following the procedure, a hysterosalpingogram is performed to confirm tubal blockage.[18] Staying on a reliable contraceptive before documenting tubal occlusion is important. The Food and Drug Administration has recommended that the patient is counseled on risks such as possible pelvic pain, possible perforation, migration, inability to complete the procedure, a possible reaction to nickel. Removal of the coils may be necessary should the patient have these complications.[19] 

Laparoscopy offers the advantage of immediate efficacy and ability to evaluate the pelvis.[20] It is safe and associated with low complication rates, estimated at 0.9 to 1.6 per 100 procedures.[21] Because it involves entry into the peritoneal cavity, it does have a risk of injury to intra-abdominal organs including the bowel, major vessels, and nerves. The rate of conversion to laparotomy is estimated to be 0.9 per 100 cases. Other complications associated with this procedure include unplanned major surgery needed due to a problem related to the tubal surgery, transfusion, febrile morbidity, wound complications, readmission, or a life-threatening event. To perform laparoscopic sterilization, the fallopian tubes are located and followed out to the fimbriated end. Occlusion of the tubes may be accomplished with the use of electrocoagulation (typically bipolar energy), mechanical devices such as the Filshie clip/Hulka clip or Falope ring or via salpingectomy. The mid-isthmic portion of the fallopian tube should be chosen when the whole tube is not removed. If bipolar energy is chosen, it is important to place three burns over a total of 3 cm segment of the isthmic portion of the fallopian tube is performed using a cutting waveform at 25-35 watts. To confirm complete desiccation of the fallopian tube, an ammeter or current flow meter can be used. Complete or partial salpingectomy may be performed and may be preferable in the setting of an abnormal appearing fallopian tube. Transection of the tube may be accomplished using bipolar or monopolar energy and cutting devices. It is associated with increased operating time and is technically more difficult than the use of electrocoagulation or mechanical devices. Complication rates do not vary significantly according to the procedure performed. As expected, diabetes, obesity, prior abdominal or pelvic surgery, general anesthesia are independent predictors for complications.

Minilaparotomy is used for postpartum sterilizations, in patients who have significant risks with laparoscopy, or as an interval procedure in low-resource settings.[22] A 2 cm to 3 cm incision is made in the area of the uterine fundus, which is typically in the umbilical region in a postpartum patient. Commonly used methods for sterilization via mini-laparotomy include partial salpingectomy via the Parkland or modified Pomeroy methods, or via mechanical devices such as Hulka clip or Filshie clip. Salpingectomy may also be performed. When an excision procedure is performed, the excised tubal segments should be sent for pathologic examination. With the Parkland method, the mid-isthmic portion of the fallopian tube is grasped with a Babcock clamp. A window is created in the avascular plane of the mesosalpinx. Two pieces of the 0-chromic suture are passed through this window, and a 2 cm to 3 cm segment of fallopian tube is ligated. With the Pomeroy method, the mid-isthmic portion of the tube is grasped, and a knuckle of the fallopian tube is ligated with a single strand of a rapidly absorbable suture such as 1-0 or 0 plain catgut suture. A second suture may be placed under the first suture if desired.

Some complications include:

• Mortality is low and about 0.01% to 0.02% and mostly related to general anesthesia.
• Conversion to open laparotomy
• Bowel injury from trocar, electrocautery
• Vascular injury from trocar
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Failure to sterile
• Vascular injury
• Failure to sterile because of lack of anatomical knowledge, failure to identify  oviduct, poor technique
• Ectopic pregnancy
• Pain
• Infection
• Patient regret [23]

Patients should be warned about the possibility of post-tubal ligation syndrome. There is some controversy whether post tubal ligation syndrome is a real entity. For many decades patients undergoing tubal ligation have presented with menorrhagia, pelvic discomfort, and ovarian cystic changes. It is not known whether these symptoms are due to damage to the blood supply or a result of oral contraceptives that the women were taking prior to the procedure. Fortunately, the number of cases are few, and the pattern of symptoms is not always consistent.

Tubal ligation is usually done by the obstetrician but initially most women come for advice on the topic to their primary care provider or nurse practitioner.  The key about tubal ligation is that the patient must be informed that it is a permanent procedure and should never be done as an emergency. While the mortality of the procedure is low, a number of serious complication may ocur. The patient should be counseled with the spouse before a decision is made to undertake the procedure. The outcomes for most patients who undergo tubal ligation are good.[24] (Level V)