Céline, Esther; Dara, Margot

What is sterilization?

Sterilization is a surgical technique performed to generate infertility to an organism. It can be a method to control birth and has the characteristics to be permanent. It is a good solution for people who are sure they never want children anymore and do not want to take the risk of being or having a partner pregnant.

What is fertility?

Fertility is the capacity to reproduce and thus to generate offspring. A man is fertile from puberty until the end of his life in a continuous process. A woman is fertile from puberty even she already has her ovaries full of oocytes before birth. However she is fertile until menopause process.

When would sterilization be made?

Sterilization would be made for a permanent birth control. A couple who wanted to be sure that they will have no more children, must maybe appeal to sterilization. For rapists, pedophiles...

Can sterilization be used for women and men?

Yes, sterilization can be performed on women (tubal ligation) and men (vasectomy):

Tubal ligation

Tubal ligation is a surgical sterilization technique for women which is quite simple to make. This surgical operation closes the fallopian tubes (=oviducts), and stops the egg from traveling from the ovary to the uterus. It also prevents sperm cells from reaching the egg to fertilize the egg.
In a tubal ligation, both fallopian tubes have to be cut, burned, or blocked with rings, bands or clips, otherwise, the efficiency of sterilization would not be good. Indeed, both ovaries have the possibiliy to ovulate every single month, on day 14 of the ovarian cycle.
There exist another type of sterilization process, Essure, in which are placed tiny metal coils in the women's fallopians tubes. After the surgery, scar tissue grows in and around these coils, which block the tubes so that sperm cannot reach a woman’s eggs.

Vasectomy

Vasectomy is the men's sterilization. During surgery the vas deferens from each testes is either squeezed, cut or sealed. This technique of sterilization prevents sperm cells from mixing with the semen that is ejaculated from the penis. When there are no sperm cells in the semen an egg cannot be fertilized. This technique blocks the sperm cells in the testes and the sperm cells are naturally reabsorbed and eliminated by the body. The fact that the sperm cells are blocked does not mean that the man does not ejaculate fluid.

See Annex Sterilization 2

How effective is sterilization ?

For women, tubal ligation is 99 percent effective and Essure is 99.7 to 99.8 percent effective. The effectiveness rate of a vasectomy is greater than 99 percent. There is a small failure rate with a one in two hundred chance of becoming pregnant at some point following sterilization. But vasectomy is only efficient after three months and during this laps of time, people may appeal to other birth control such as pill or condoms. Do not forget that tubal ligation and vasectomy offers no protection against sexually transmitted infection, because in the vasectomy case whether or not it contains sperm cells, sexually transmitted infections can be carried in ejaculation.

Is sterilization irreversible ?

It would be wrong to say that fertillization of both sex are irreversible, except for Essure.
In the case of tubal ligation, it may be reversible by requiring microsurgery to reconnect fallopian tubes, which is a difficult operation. If a woman would like to be pregnant after sterilization, it is possible without reversal sugery. Indeed women will be offered in vtro fertilization.
For vasectomy, it is reversible by having a surgery which is a complicated procedure requiring general anesthesia and a lengthy operation. Many men who had this surgery are again able to have children.

What are the advantages of sterilization?

For women

There are different advantages of having a tubal ligation : First, the fact that it is immediately effective and does not affect sexual pleasure very important point.... Secondly, that it does not require a daily attention. Then, it is a cost-effective over the time, but again, tubal ligation does not protect against STD.

For men

The advantages of vasectomy are simple. First, men won't have to worry about your partner becoming pregnant anymore because the semen does not contains sperm anymore, but do not forget that vasectomy, as tubal ligation does not protect against STD. Secondly, vasectomy is a safe and cheap procedure compare to the cost of other methods known as pills or condom over the time.

What are the disadvantages of sterilization?

For women

Sterilization as it has been said is almost 100 percent effective and permanent. The fact that this birth control is permanent can be an advantage, but before choosing this method the women should think about any possible life changes that may bring her to change her mind. Also as for any surgery there is some risks, but it's very rare, because it's an easy operation. Finally the most important thing to remember is that this birth control do not protect against sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including infection with HIV. To help protect yourself and your partner from possible STD infection, use a condom every time you have sex.

For men

The disadvantages for vasectomy is almost the same as for tubal ligation. The man must be sure of his decision before appeal to this kind of birth control which is irreversible. Again there are risks with any medical procedure, including vasectomy. It's important to understand the risks before having a vasectomy. And finally as said before it does not protect against sexually transmitted diseases.