Sterilization

Sometimes people may refer to this method as “getting your tubes tied”. Here you’ll find out that sterilization does not actually involve “tying” tubes.

INCISION
For women, laparoscopy, mini-laparotomy, and laparotomy are sterilization procedures that require an incision. Because these methods are surgical, they involve anesthesia. Recovery times vary from 1-2 days to a few weeks.

For men, an incision-based vasectomy takes about 20 minutes. It requires a shot of local anesthetic and then a doctor makes one or two incisions to the scrotum and blocks the tubes so sperm are kept out of his seminal fluid. No sperm, no pregnancy.

NON-INCISION
The non-incision vasectomy method for men involves a tiny puncture that reaches his tubes, where they are then tied off, cauterized, or blocked. There’s no scarring, no stitches, and this procedure is known for healing quite fast without complications.

TOTAL CERTAINTY
Sterilization is not reversible. Those interested in this pregnancy prevention method should be sure they do not want biological children in the future.

NO HORMONE WORRIES
If you don’t want to use a hormonal method, this is one option. Plus, sterilization doesn’t change your body’s natural hormones—they’ll still pump through your body just like they did before.

IF PREGNANCY WOULD BE HARMFUL TO YOUR HEALTH
If there’s a medical reason why you shouldn’t get pregnant, sterilization might be a good way to go.

YOUR FAMILY’S BIG ENOUGH
Maybe you and your partner have had enough kids already.

THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT STERILIZATION METHODS
Available today, and they fall into two camps: Incision methods (you go under the scalpel) and non-incision methods (no cuts).

The incision methods include laparoscopy, mini-laparotomy, and laparotomy. Laparotomy is the most major surgery of the three, but it’s also the least common. It requires a hospital stay for a couple of days and the recovery time can take weeks. Laparoscopy and mini-laparotomy are less intense, don’t necessarily involve overnight hospitalization, and recovery time is faster.

The non-incision methods are simpler and less expensive: actual insertion can take just three to 15 minutes, and you go home the same day. You don’t need general anesthesia or surgery, and you recover faster. Plus, no cut means no visible scar. You’ll need to use a back-up birth control method for three months, then have an x-ray to be sure the tubes are totally blocked. The incision methods are effective immediately.

No-scalpel vasectomy is a permanent pregnancy prevention method for people with penises. During this in-office procedure, a small needled is used by a physician to inject anesthesia into a tube-like structure called the vas deferens. Once the anesthesia is in place, an opening a few millimeters wide is made in the skin of the scrotum. From there the vas deferens is either ligated (cut) or cauterized (burned) so sperm can no longer swim from the testicles to the urethra (opening of penis).

Talk to your health care provider to learn more and remember any birth control decision such as sterilization should be a fully informed decision, free of coercion.

THERE ARE POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE THINGS TO SAY
about each and every method. And everyone’s different—so what you experience may not be the same as what your friend experiences.

THE POSITIVE
There are actually lots of things about sterilization that are good for your body as well as your sex life.

• Have sex without ever worrying about pregnancy


• Do it once, and never have to think about it again


• No hormones

THE NEGATIVE
Everyone worries about negative side effects, but for most people, they’re not a problem.

• A very rare risk that your tubes may reconnect themselves—which could lead to a pregnancy


• Possible complications with surgery, like bleeding, infection or a reaction to anesthesia

WE’RE HERE TO GET THIS METHOD WORKING BETTER FOR YOU.
Sterilization is permanent so we won’t be suggesting any alternate methods, just trying to troubleshoot potential problems.

I HAD A STERILIZATION PROCEDURE SEVERAL WEEKS AGO AND I’M STILL EXHAUSTED AND SORE.
It’s normal to be sore and tired for days or even weeks after some of the surgical procedures. However, if you’re concerned, or if you don’t start to regain your strength soon, you should check in with your doctor just in case.

I’M HAVING PREGNANCY SYMPTOMS EVEN THOUGH I’M STERILIZED.
Sterilization is extremely effective and is intended to be permanent. Nevertheless, about 5 of every 1,000 women become pregnant within a year after the procedure and that small risk remains until menopause, so you should take a pregnancy test if you’re concerned.