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Permanent Contraception Methods
Female sterilization—known as permanent birth control—is the most common form of contraception overall, and the birth control method used most often by women 35 and older. There are two primary forms of female sterilization: a nonsurgical implant system, called "Essure," and the traditional tubal ligation, often called "getting your tubes tied."
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According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, all forms of sterilization have a failure rate of less than 1 percent (one pregnancy per 100 women).
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The Essure procedure. The Essure procedure can be performed in your doctor's office with local anesthesia. Your doctor uses a special instrument called a hysteroscope to place specially designed spring-like coils called micro-inserts through your vagina and cervix into the opening of your fallopian tube in your uterus. There is no incision. Within three months, the micro-inserts cause your body to form a tissue barrier that prevents sperm from reaching the egg. During this three-month period, you need to use another form of birth control. After three months, the doctor performs a special x-ray to make sure your tubes are completely blocked. In clinical studies, most women reported little to no pain, and were able to return to their normal activities in a day or two. Essure may reduce the risk of tubal (ectopic) pregnancy.
Tubal ligation: An estimated 700,000 tubal ligations are performed in the U.S. each year, compared to 500,000 vasectomies, despite the greater risk of complications with tubal ligation. The phrase "getting your tubes tied" is a misnomer, however, since the fallopian tubes are not actually tied. Instead, they are blocked with a ring or burned or clipped shut. This procedure is typically performed under general anesthesia in a hospital. The surgeon makes a small incision through the abdomen and inserts a special instrument called a laparoscope to view the pelvic region and tubes and to perform the procedure. Recovery typically takes four to six days. Risks include pain, bleeding, infection and other postsurgical complications, as well as an ectopic, or tubal, pregnancy.
Male sterilization is called a vasectomy. This procedure is performed in the doctor's office. The scrotum is numbed with an anesthetic, so the doctor can make a small incision to access the vas deferens, the tubes through which sperm travels from the testicle to the penis. The doctor then seals, ties or cuts the vas deferens. Following a vasectomy, a man continues to ejaculate, but the fluid does not contain sperm.
All forms of permanent contraception carry a failure rate of less than one percent.
This content was produced with the support of an educational grant from Conceptus, Inc.
Create Date: 5/7/07
Date Last Updated: 5/7/07
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