Sterilization Methods
Sterilization procedures are considered permanent and are chosen by people who do not want any children or any more children. The name for the sterilization procedure for women is tubal sterilization. The name for the sterilization procedure for men is vasectomy. Once a women has a tubal sterilization or a man has a vasectomy, the chances of reversing these procedures to allow the woman and man to have more children is very, very small.
For Women: Tubal Sterilization
What It Is
Tubal sterilization is a very safe procedure that stops the egg and sperm from meeting. The fallopian tubes are the place where this happens, so if they are changed in a special way, the sperm cannot reach the egg. There are different types of tubal sterilization, such as cutting the tubes or blocking the inside of them.
Because sterilization procedures are considered permanent methods of pregnancy prevention, they are not considered good choices for teenagers. In fact, there are federal government and state government regulations that prevent physicians from performing these procedures on teenagers.
Tubal sterilization works very well to prevent pregnancy, but does not help protect against HIV and other STDs. If you are having sex with someone who might give you a sexually transmitted infection, use a condom.
Effectiveness
Tubal sterilization is 99.5 % effective.
That means that if 100 women are sterilized, only 1 woman (and probably no women) out of that group would get pregnant in a year.
Special note: If the woman is sterilized by putting a tiny coil in her tubes, she must use another form of birth control for 3 months if she doesn't want to become pregnant.
Advantages
- No other method of birth control is ever needed once your clinician has made sure it really worked.
- Tubal sterilization is safe. It does not take long to heal.
- Tubal sterilization has no long-term side effects.
- Tubal sterilization does not change your feelings or your ability to have sex.
- Tubal sterilization does not interrupt sex.
- Over time, it costs less than other birth control methods.
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For Men: Vasectomy
What It Is
Vasectomy is a safe and simple procedure that works very well to prevent pregnancy. It doesn't protect against HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. If you are having sex with someone who might give you a sexually transmitted infection, use a condom.
Effectiveness
Vasectomy is about 99.9% effective.
This means that if 100 men have vasectomies, maybe 1 of those men, and probably none of them, will get a woman pregnant in a year, especially if they follow the clinician's directions.
Special note: Men should use condoms or some other birth control method for the first 3 months and get a check-up to be sure that the surgery worked before they have sex without another method.
Advantages
- No other method of birth control is ever needed; once your clinician has made sure it really worked.
- Vasectomy does not change your feelings or your ability to have sex.
- Vasectomy does not interrupt sex.
- The surgery is safe. It does not take long to heal. It is safer and easier than female sterilization surgery.
To Learn More
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