Sterilisation

Female sterilisation

Female sterilisation is a surgical procedure to provide permanent contraception.

It is more than 99% effective at preventing pregnancy

How does it work?

The fallopian tubes are snipped or blocked so the eggs cannot travel down the tubes to meet the sperm.

Advantages

• Useful for couples who have completed their families.

Disadvantages

• It is permanent, and the surgical operation to reverse female sterilisation is difficult and often unsuccessful.
• Requires a hospital stay and general anaesthetic.
• Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

For more information, please visit your GP or family planning clinic.

Male sterilisation

Vasectomy (Male sterilisation) is a surgical procedure that provides permanent contraception.

A vasectomy is more than 99% effective.

How does it work?

A vasectomy works by stopping sperm getting into a man's semen, the fluid that he ejaculates. The tubes that carry sperm from a man's testicles to the penis are cut, blocked or sealed with heat. This means that when a man ejaculates, the semen has no sperm in it and a woman's egg can't be fertilised.

Advantages

• is useful for couples who have completed their families.
• does not affect your hormone levels, sex drive or interfere with sex.
• it may be chosen as a simpler and safer alternative to female sterilisation

Disadvantages

• the procedure should be considered permanent.
• it is difficult to reverse and attempts to do so often fail
• you can have discomfort and swelling for a short time after the procedure.
• does not protect against sexually transmitted infections.

For more information, please visit your GP or family planning clinic.