Sterilization (contraception)

There are many ways to prevent unwanted pregnancy. However, not all conceivable variants are equally effective or not safe. One form of contraception is the sterilization represent.

What is the sterilization?

A sensible method to safely and permanently prevent pregnancy is this sterilizationthat comes into consideration for both the man and the woman.

A distinction is made between the completely permanent and irreversible sterilization by cutting up the semen or egg ladder and the clamping that can later be reversed.

There are various reasons why individuals become one sterilization decide not to have any offspring. On the one hand, these can be hereditary diseases or, for example, just the lack of desire for children.

Function, effect & goals

goal of sterilization is sterility, whereby it can be used not only in men but also in women. In both cases the aim and achievement is that the person concerned can no longer father or conceive children.

Nevertheless, all other functions of the organism remained the same; in particular, sterilization does not lead to any restrictions on the libido. Sterilization is one of the safest methods of contraception. The Pearl Index for male sterilization is 0.1 and for women between 0.1 and 0.3. The Pearl Index indicates how many fertile women have become pregnant despite the contraceptive being assessed.

The lower the Pearl Index, the safer the method. Sterilization is often recommended by doctors, not least because of the safety of the method and the fact that it is largely free of side effects. In Germany alone, two percent of all men of childbearing age are sterilized, while the rate of sterilizations among fertile women is as much as eight percent.

The course of sterilization in male patients naturally differs from that in female patients. Anesthesia is generally not required for men; it is only used at the express request of the patient. Then the necessary instruments are inserted through a minimal opening in the testicle. There the vas deferens are either severed permanently or clamped off with a "clamp". The advantage of the clamp is that the sterilization can be reversed by subsequently removing the clamp, whereas this is in principle no longer possible when cutting through the vas deferens.

The consequence of both variants is the same: Because the vas deferens are cut off or cut through, no more semen can get into the ejaculate. This means that because of his sperm-free ejaculate, the man can no longer father children during sexual intercourse. In order to guarantee this beyond any doubt, the patient is asked a few days after the operation to give ejaculate samples to the attending physician for a check-up in order to determine whether the vas deferens have actually been ligated.

In women, sterilization is generally carried out under general anesthesia. The instruments are then inserted through an opening in the patient's abdominal wall in order to reach the fallopian tubes. Once there, there are two options to choose from: Either the doctor clamps the egg ladder off or he obliterates it. The aim is the same as with male sterilization: Because the conductors are clamped or obliterated, eggs can no longer get into the uterus to be fertilized there.

Risks, side effects & dangers

The sterilization is safe in two ways: both in terms of its effective protection against unwanted pregnancy and in terms of its possible side effects. There are none to be expected.

With male sterilization, at most minor pain can arise when clamping or cutting the vas deferens, which according to the statements of those affected should be kept within limits. Female patients basically feel nothing because of the mandatory general anesthesia. It is also true that the procedure has no effect on sexual life in both women and men.

For example, a man's ejaculate cannot be seen with the naked eye that it does not contain sperm. In particular, sterilization does not affect the libido. Even with women, sterilization does not change anything. Rather, they continue to ovulate on a regular basis, so that there can be no sequelae of sterilization.