Contraceptive Pearl: Permanent Birth Control Options
For patients who don’t want to have more children, there are several permanent birth control options available: tubal ligation and hysteroscopic sterilization for women, and vasectomy for men. Anyone considering sterilization should learn the pros and cons of each option.
Tubal ligation is 98-99.9% effective. This procedure provides women with immediate protection against pregnancy. Drawbacks to this method are its high cost ($1,500-6,000 without insurance), the risks of anesthesia, and the risks of the operation itself (bleeding, infection, and damage to internal organs). Women may take several days to recover from this operation.
Hysteroscopic sterilization is 97% effective. It takes up to three months to become effective. During this time, a backup form of birth control control is necessary. This method’s high cost ($1,500-6,000 without insurance) is a drawback. However, general anesthesia is not necessary and the procedure can take place in an office rather than an operating room. The typical recovery time is 24 hours.
A vasectomy is over 99% effective. It takes 1-3 months to become effective. During this time, a backup form of birth control is needed. This method is safer and less expensive ($350-1,000 without insurance) than most female sterilization procedures. General anesthesia is not necessary, and the procedure can take place in an office rather than an operating room. Most men recover from the procedure in 1-2 days.
All women considering sterilization should learn about the advantages of vasectomy for their male partners. Women who aren’t ready for a permanent method should consider an IUD or implant. These methods are just as effective as sterilization, but have the additional advantage of being fully reversible.
We appreciate your feedback! Please write to us at pearls@reproductiveaccess.org with any questions, comments or additional resources to add to our list.
Helpful Resources
Permanent Birth Control (Sterilization) Fact Sheet
Sources
Sterilization for Women and Men. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 2004
Tubal Ligation. MedLine Plus. The National Institutes of Health. 2014
Pharma-free
The Reproductive Health Access Project does not accept funding from pharmaceutical companies. We do not promote specific brands of medication or contraception. The information in the Contraceptive Pearls is unbiased, based on science alone.
