What surgical procedure refers to the tying of tubes to prevent pregnancy?

The procedure that refers to the tying of tubes to prevent pregnancy is known as tubal ligation. In this surgical intervention, a woman’s fallopian tubes are surgically blocked, cut, or tied to prevent the sperm from reaching the egg or for the fertilized egg from implanting in the uterus. This form of permanent birth control is a highly effective method to prevent pregnancy and does not affect hormonal cycles or overall health.

The other options pertain to different medical procedures. A hysterectomy involves the surgical removal of the uterus, which eliminates the possibility of pregnancy but is not achieved through the tying of tubes. A salpingectomy is the removal of one or both fallopian tubes, which is different from simply tying them. Fertility preservation techniques seek to save eggs or sperm for future use and do not prevent pregnancy in the short term. Thus, tubal ligation is specifically designed for the purpose of preventing pregnancy through the means of surgical constriction of the fallopian tubes.