Sterilisation

Male and Female Sterilisation

Sterilisation works by preventing the egg and the sperm meeting. In women this is done by blocking the fallopian tubes, which carries an egg from the ovary to the uterus. In males the vas deferens is blocked this is the tubes that carries the sperms from the testicles to the penis.

Sterilisation is only for people who are sure they never want children or do not want more children. It is a permanent method of contraception.

How effective is sterilisation

Male Sterilisation (vasectomy) - 1 in 2,000 males sterilisation will fail
Female Sterilisation - The overall failure rate is 1 in 200 in women.

What are the advantages of sterilisation?

• It does not interfere with sex
• A permanent method

What are the disadvantages of sterilisation?

After a vasectomy it usually takes a few months for the sperm to disappear. You will need to use another method of contraception until 2 clear semen tests show no sperm.
Male sterilisation is s simple operation usually carried out under local anaesthetic, and takes 10-15 minutes.

Female sterilisation involves an operation, and usually a general anaesthetic.

For both male and female sterilisation:

• The tubes may rejoin and you could be fertile again.
• Sterilisation cannot be easily reversed.
• Sterilisation does not protect you against sexually transmitted infection.

Can anyone be sterilised?

Sterilisation is for people who do not want any more children or who are sure they never want any children.

Research shows that women under 25 who were sterilised are more likely to regret it. Because of this you will need to be fully counselled this will give you an opportunity to discuss your doubt, worries, and questions you might need to know.

Male Vasectomy

You will be given a local anaesthetic into your scrotum, prior to the doctor making a small cut(s) in the skin of your scrotum to reach your tubes. The doctor will remove a small piece of tube and close the ends. These cuts will be very small and you may not need stitches. If you do the stitches are usually dissolvable. This procedure usually takes 10-15 minutes.
Your scrotum may become bruised, swollen and painful. It is advisable to wear tight-fitting underpants to support your scrotum during the first week after the operation. You should avoid exercise in the first week.

Occasionally you may experience bleeding, large swelling or infection, in these circumstances you will need advice from a doctor. Occasionally sperm may leak out of the tube and collect in the surrounding tissue, this can cause pain and inflammation during the first few weeks or months later after the operation, if this does occurs this can be treated.

Where can I go?

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How soon can I resume sex after vasectomy?

As soon as it feels comfortable. You will need to use extra precaution until you have had two clear semen tests, this varies from man to man, and it is usually 8 to 12 weeks after the operation.

You will continue to produce male hormones, just as before the vasectomy. Your feelings, sex drive, ability to have an erection and climax will not be affected. The only difference will be that there will not be any sperm in the semen; your body will have absorbed this. You will not notice any difference in your semen.

How soon will it be effective?

You will need to have two semen test 2-4 weeks apart to see if the sperm are no longer presence. It cannot be deemed as successful until you have had two clear sample tests.