Contraception, Sterilization

Key Features

• In the United States, sterilization is the most popular method of birth control for couples who want no more children

• Male sterilization by vasectomy is a safe, simple procedure in which the vas deferens is severed and sealed through a scrotal incision under local anesthesia

  • No excess risk of cardiovascular disease

  • No definite association of vasectomy with prostate cancer

• Female sterilization is performed by either

  • Laparoscopic bipolar electrocoagulation

  • Salpingectomy

  • Plastic ring application on the uterine tubes

  • Minilaparotomy with tubal resection

  • Hysteroscopic transcervical sterilization

• The cumulative 10-year failure rate for all methods combined is 1.85%, varying from 0.75% for postpartum partial salpingectomy and laparoscopic unipolar coagulation to 3.65% for spring clips