Outpatient surgery benefits patients only if postoperative sequelae are effectively treated. After laparoscopic tubal ligation (TL) intense pain and consequent postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) has been a problem delaying recovery and resulting in hospital admission. Ninety patients were randomised to this double-blind study, the aim being to evaluate the effect of balanced analgesia on postoperative pain and recovery after sterilization. The balanced analgesia group received 5 ml of 2% lidocaine gel on the sterilization clips and perioperatively 200 mg of ketoprofen i.v. The lidocaine group received 5 ml of 2% lidocaine gel on the clips and placebo i.v. perioperatively. The placebo group received 5 ml of placebo gel on the clips and placebo i.v. perioperatively. Infusion of propofol and 67% nitrous oxide in oxygen were used for maintenance of anesthesia. Succinylcholine and vecuronium were used for muscle relaxation and 0.1 mg of fentanyl i.v. was given to all patients at induction of anesthesia. Postoperative pain and analgesic requirements, incidence of PONV and need for antiemetic medication were all significantly lower in the balanced analgesia group. Home readiness was consistently achieved 70-90 min sooner in the balanced analgesia group compared to the other groups (P < 0.01 between the balanced analgesia and the placebo group), and the patients were able to return to normal activity sooner (cumulatively 93% of the patients in the balanced analgesia group vs. 60% in the other two groups (P < 0.01 between the balanced analgesia and the other groups) had returned to normal activity on the 2nd postoperative day). It is concluded that in patients undergoing laparoscopic TL the combination of analgesic regimens with different mechanisms of action offer a simple and efficient way of postoperative pain relief, as well as an improvement of quality (i.e. less PONV) and speed of recovery.