Sterilization refers to any of a number of medical techniques that intentionally leave a person unable to reproduce. It is a method of birth control

Birth control

Birth control is an umbrella term for several techniques and methods used to prevent fertilization or to interrupt pregnancy at various stages. Birth control techniques and methods include contraception , contragestion and abortion...

. For other causes of sterility, see infertility

Infertility

Infertility primarily refers to the biological inability of a person to contribute to conception. Infertility may also refer to the state of a woman who is unable to carry a pregnancy to full term...

.

Sterilization methods include both surgical and non-surgical, and exist for both males and females. Sterilization procedures are intended to be permanent; reversal is generally difficult or impossible.

Surgical

Surgical sterilization methods include:

• Tubal ligation
  Tubal ligation
  Tubal ligation or tubectomy is a surgical procedure for sterilization in which a woman's fallopian tubes are clamped and blocked, or severed and sealed, either method of which prevents eggs from reaching the uterus for fertilization...
  
   in females, known popularly as "having one's tubes tied". The Fallopian tube
  Fallopian tube
  The Fallopian tubes, also known as oviducts, uterine tubes, and salpinges are two very fine tubes lined with ciliated epithelia, leading from the ovaries of female mammals into the uterus, via the utero-tubal junction...
  
  s, which allow the sperm to fertilize the ovum
  Ovum
  An ovum is a haploid female reproductive cell or gamete. Both animals and embryophytes have ova. The term ovule is used for the young ovum of an animal, as well as the plant structure that carries the female gametophyte and egg cell and develops into a seed after fertilization...
  
   and would carry the fertilized ovum to the uterus
  Uterus
  The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
  
  , are closed. This generally involves a general anesthetic and a laparotomy
  Laparotomy
  A laparotomy is a surgical procedure involving a large incision through the abdominal wall to gain access into the abdominal cavity. It is also known as coeliotomy.- Terminology :...
  
   or laparoscopic approach to cut, clip or cauterize the fallopian tubes.
• Vasectomy
  Vasectomy
  Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization and/or permanent birth control. During the procedure, the vasa deferentia of a man are severed, and then tied/sealed in a manner such to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream...
  
   in male
  Male
  Male refers to the biological sex of an organism, or part of an organism, which produces small mobile gametes, called spermatozoa. Each spermatozoon can fuse with a larger female gamete or ovum, in the process of fertilization...
  
  s. The vasa deferentia
  Vas deferens
  The vas deferens , also called ductus deferens, , is part of the male anatomy of many vertebrates; they transport sperm from the epididymis in anticipation of ejaculation....
  
  , the tubes which connect the testicle
  Testicle
  The testicle is the male gonad in animals. Like the ovaries to which they are homologous, testes are components of both the reproductive system and the endocrine system...
  
  s to the prostate
  Prostate
  The prostate is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland of the male reproductive system in most mammals....
  
  , are cut and closed. This prevents sperm
  Spermatozoon
  A spermatozoon is a motile sperm cell, or moving form of the haploid cell that is the male gamete. A spermatozoon joins an ovum to form a zygote...
  
   produced in the testicles from entering the ejaculated semen
  Semen
  Semen is an organic fluid, also known as seminal fluid, that may contain spermatozoa. It is secreted by the gonads and other sexual organs of male or hermaphroditic animals and can fertilize female ova...
  
   (which is mostly produced in the seminal vesicle
  Seminal vesicle
  The seminal vesicles or vesicular glands are a pair of simple tubular glands posteroinferior to the urinary bladder of male mammals...
  
  s and prostate
  Prostate
  The prostate is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland of the male reproductive system in most mammals....
  
  ). Although the term vasectomy is established in the general community, the correct medical terminology
  Medical terminology
  Medical terminology is a vocabulary for accurately describing the human body and associated components, conditions, processes and process in a science-based manner. Some examples are: R.I.C.E., trapezius, and latissimus dorsi. It is to be used in the medical and nursing fields...
  
   is deferentectomy, since the structure known as the vas deferens has been renamed the ductus deferens.
• Hysterectomy
  Hysterectomy
  A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus, usually performed by a gynecologist. Hysterectomy may be total or partial...
  
   in female
  Female
  Female is the sex of an organism, or a part of an organism, which produces non-mobile ova .- Defining characteristics :The ova are defined as the larger gametes in a heterogamous reproduction system, while the smaller, usually motile gamete, the spermatozoon, is produced by the male...
  
  s. The uterus
  Uterus
  The uterus or womb is a major female hormone-responsive reproductive sex organ of most mammals including humans. One end, the cervix, opens into the vagina, while the other is connected to one or both fallopian tubes, depending on the species...
  
   is surgically removed, permanently preventing pregnancy
  Pregnancy
  Pregnancy refers to the fertilization and development of one or more offspring, known as a fetus or embryo, in a woman's uterus. In a pregnancy, there can be multiple gestations, as in the case of twins or triplets...
  
   and some disease
  Disease
  A disease is an abnormal condition affecting the body of an organism. It is often construed to be a medical condition associated with specific symptoms and signs. It may be caused by external factors, such as infectious disease, or it may be caused by internal dysfunctions, such as autoimmune...
  
  s, such as uterine cancer
  Uterine cancer
  The term uterine cancer may refer to any of several different types of cancer which occur in the uterus, namely:*Uterine sarcomas: sarcomas of the myometrium, or muscular layer of the uterus, are most commonly leiomyosarcomas.*Endometrial cancer:...
  
  .
• Castration
  Castration
  Castration is any action, surgical, chemical, or otherwise, by which a male loses the functions of the testicles or a female loses the functions of the ovaries.-Humans:...
  
   in males. The testicles are surgically removed. This is frequently used for the sterilization of animals, but rarely for humans. It was also formerly used on some human male children for other reasons; see castrato
  Castrato
  A castrato is a man with a singing voice equivalent to that of a soprano, mezzo-soprano, or contralto voice produced either by castration of the singer before puberty or one who, because of an endocrinological condition, never reaches sexual maturity.Castration before puberty prevents a boy's...
  
   and eunuch
  Eunuch
  A eunuch is a person born male most commonly castrated, typically early enough in his life for this change to have major hormonal consequences...
  
  .

Transluminal

Transluminal procedures are performed by entry through the female reproductive tract. These generally use a catheter to place a substance into the Fallopian tube

Fallopian tube

The Fallopian tubes, also known as oviducts, uterine tubes, and salpinges are two very fine tubes lined with ciliated epithelia, leading from the ovaries of female mammals into the uterus, via the utero-tubal junction...

s that eventually causes blockage of the tract in this segment. Such procedures are generally called non-surgical as they use natural orifices and thereby do not necessitate any surgical incision.

• The Essure
  Essure
  Essure is a permanent transcervical sterilization procedure for women developed by Conceptus Inc. It was approved for use in the United States on November 4, 2002....
  
   procedure is one such transluminal sterilization technique. In this procedure, polyethylene terephthalate fiber inserts are placed into the fallopian tubes, eventually inducing scarring and occlusion of the tubes. Following successful insertion and occlusional response, the Essure procedure is 99.74% effective based on 5 years of follow-up, with zero pregnancies reported in clinical trials.
• Quinacrine
  Quinacrine
  Quinacrine is a drug with a number of different medical applications. It is related to mefloquine.-Uses:Its main effects are as an antiprotozoal, antirheumatic and an intrapleural sclerosing agent....
  
   has also been used for transluminal sterilization, but despite a multitude of clinical studies on the use of quinacrine and female sterilization, no randomized, controlled trials have been reported to date and there is some controversy over its use.

Pharmacological

There is no working "sterilization pill" that causes permanent inability to reproduce, although there have been hoaxes involving fictitious drugs that would purportedly have such effects, notably progesterex

Progesterex

Progesterex is a fictitious date rape drug that would purportedly cause sterilization. It is part of a hoax that began to circulate in 1999 via e-mail on the internet. No actual drug by this name or even with these properties exists, and no such incident has ever been documented or confirmed...

.

Psychological effects

Most people undergoing sterilization experience no change in sexual activity, quality of marital relationships or work-related behavior. Few regret their choice. Risk factors for negative consequences after sterilization include:

• being coerced into the procedure
• lacking understanding of the consequences of the procedure
• having health complications after the procedure
• having an unstable marriage, as it increases the risk of divorce followed by a new relationship in which the couple desires to have children
• disagreeing with partner about the decision to perform sterilization

See also

• Compulsory sterilization
  Compulsory sterilization
  Compulsory sterilization also known as forced sterilization programs are government policies which attempt to force people to undergo surgical sterilization...
  
  
• Eugenics
  Eugenics
  Eugenics is the "applied science or the bio-social movement which advocates the use of practices aimed at improving the genetic composition of a population", usually referring to human populations. The origins of the concept of eugenics began with certain interpretations of Mendelian inheritance,...
  
  
• Male contraceptive
  Male contraceptive
  Male contraceptives include condoms, withdrawal , and vasectomy. In other animals, castration is commonly used for contraception...
  
  
• Vas-occlusive contraception
  Vas-occlusive contraception
  Vas-occlusive contraception is an experimental male contraceptive method that is not yet approved for general use. Proposed methods of vas-occlusive contraception attempt to prevent sperm from traveling down the vasa deferentia...
  
  

External links

• Vasectomy Information —The website of newsgroup alt.support.vasectomy.
• All About Vasectomy & Finding a Doctor. Latest advances, videos etc
• My Vasectomy in Words and Pictures —One man's personal experience.
• Vasectomy Reversal Resource
• Female Sterilization Options - /mk.nkl/cvas1.html Is Vasectomy the Right Method For Me?] and Is Female Sterilization the Right Method For Me?
• No-Scalpel Vasectomy: The NSV Book
• Video: The NSV Procedure (graphic)