A 30-minute sterilisation procedure for women has been made available in Scotland for the first time.

The surgery-free procedure, which requires no overnight stay in hospital, is being pioneered by a medical team in Edinburgh.

The hysteroscopic sterilisations are carried out by inserting coils into the fallopian tubes via a small tube.

No incisions are needed in the women's abdomen as the tube is inserted through the cervix.

The tiny coils prevent sperm from meeting and fertilizing an egg.

The procedure has a high success rate, with only one in 1,000 patients falling pregnant compared with about one in 200 who undergo traditional sterilisation.

Four patients at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh's reproductive health outpatient department underwent the procedure earlier this year.

It has now been carried out about 20 times following the successful pilot.

Dr Sue Milne, associate specialist in reproductive medicine at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, said: "Hysteroscopic sterilisation can be carried out without patients being admitted to hospital, and is completed within about 30 minutes.

"The new procedure means there is no longer the need for an overnight stay in hospital and recovery is more rapid."

Audrey Burnside, clinical nurse manager at Lothian Gynaecological Services, said: "This procedure is a landmark achievement in female sterilisation as it allows women to undergo sterilisation with minimum pain and disruption to their lives."

Source: BBC, 28 April 2008