Sterilisation
Sterilisation is only suitable for those who never want to have children or do not want more children.
It is a permanent method of contraception and is extremely difficult to reverse:
There are two types:
- Vasectomy (male sterilisation) – for people with testicles
- Female sterilisation – for people with a womb and ovaries
Both types of sterilisation involve surgery.
Vasectomy
- A vasectomy is a small operation to cut or tie the tube that carries sperm from the testicles to the penis.
- It doesn’t affect sex drive, erections, or ejaculation – your semen just won’t have sperm.
- Vasectomy takes 3–6 months to work. You’ll need to give a sample to check it’s successful.
Female sterilisation (for people assigned ‘female at birth).
- involves surgery to block or seal the fallopian tubes (these carry eggs to the womb). The most common way is to clip the tubes.
- Sterilisation is hard to reverse, so only choose it if you’re sure you don’t want children in the future.
- Like any surgery, there’s a small risk of complications.
- Sterilisation does NOT protect against STIs, including HIV – you’ll still need condoms. Learn more about STIs here.
You can get more information on sterilisation from your local GP.
A patient information leaflet on female sterilisation is also available.
As this is a permanent form of contraception, you may want to consider other long-acting methods of contraception like a contraceptive implant or coil which are very effective and also reversible.
You can chat through options at sexual health clinics and with your GP.
You can search for your local GP using our find a service tool.
