OBJECTIVE: To compare the menstrual cycle characteristics of 67 patients who had undergone either laparoscopic cauterization or tubal ligation with Pomeroy method. STUDY DESIGN: In this retrospective study, we reviewed our operation records and found 124 patients who had undergone tubal sterilization. Of these 124 patients 67 were included in the study. We performed a gynecological examination, asked about the nature of their menstrual cycles and compared the characteristics of the cycles before and after the operation. Then we divided the population into 2 groups regarding to the type of surgery and searched if the type of surgery had an effect on the menstrual cycle. RESULTS: We did not find a difference in cycle length, number of days of bleeding, heavy bleeding, and intermenstrual bleeding, passing clots and the presence and degree of dysmenorrhea and dyspareunia before and after the operation. When we compared the patients according to the type of surgery they had undergone, the only significant difference was the decrease in the number of days of bleeding in the laparoscopy group. CONCLUSION: Tubal ligation does not impair the nature of the menstrual cycle. Laparoscopic cauterization may even decrease the number of days of bleeding