27th June 2023

Sterilisation

Sterilisation for women is tubal occlusion and for men a vasectomy. Both are considered permanent methods of contraception, and the NHS does not routinely offer reversal. Both methods require a small surgical procedure. Female sterilisation is carried out laparoscopically and requires a general anaesthesia, which has associated risks.

Vasectomy has a failure rate of 0.05%, but a post-procedure sperm analysis (usually at 12 weeks) is required to confirm azoospermia, and additional contraceptives should be used until this time. Tubal occlusion has a failure rate of 0.5%. Tubal occlusion is associated with a slight protective effect against developing ovarian cancer; by contrast, vasectomy is associated with a slight increased risk of prostate cancer, although the relationship is not thought to be causal.