Permanent contraception in men or women?

Permanent contraception is also referred to as sterilisation. As the name implies, it is a permanent form of birth control. It is suitable for couples that harbour no future desires for more children. It is also recommended in individuals with certain medical conditions where pregnancy is not advisable.

Either the man or the woman can choose to undergo the procedure. Women can undergo tubal sterilisation, which involves closing the fallopian tubes. This prevents an egg from moving down the tube to the womb and keeps the sperms from reaching the eggs.

The sterilisation procedure for men is called vasectomy. This involves blocking the tubes that carry sperms out of the testes, thereby preventing pregnancy. Contrary to unwarranted fears, neither of the procedures affects sexual function. Couples can continue to enjoy sex as normal, without the fear of unwanted pregnancies.

Sterilisation

There is an imbalance between male and female sterilisation in our society. Women are more likely to come forth for sterilisation compared to men. This is partly due to cultural norms and inadequate information. There are many reasons why men should opt for sterilisation.Doing a vasectomy is technically easier, less expensive and less prone to risk of failure compared to female sterilisation.Men can have a vasectomy at any time of their choosing. All that is required is a small puncture on the scrotum, facilitating access and sealing of the tubes that transport sperms. The procedure is completed within minutes and the men can go home immediately.

 Complications are rare and recovery is quick. Vasectomy is, however, not effective right away. It takes up to three months for the semen to be completely free of sperms. Additional protective measures must be used during this period, and a test to confirm the absence of sperms is advisable after three months. Having and maintaining an erection, and ejaculation will continue as normal.

Future fertility

If contemplating permanent contraception, both partners should go for consultation. Be as sure as you can be that you have no desires for future fertility. Young couples should consider using alternate long-term contraceptive methods, as they run the risk of regrets in future. Make sure you understand what exactly will be done and ask questions if anything is unclear.

 If any doubt arises, choose a comparable long-term contraceptive method in the meantime, as you can always go back later. Beware that there is small risk of failure after sterilisation. If a period is missed, do a pregnancy test straight away and alert your gynaecologist if the result is positive.

What if desire for pregnancy arises in the future? Reversal of sterilisation is technically possible, but prone to failure. Recourse to modern assisted conception techniques may end up being the way out to achieve subsequent pregnancy.

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