Female Sterilisation
Female Sterilisation
- This is a permanent method of contraception
- It involves a surgical procedure. There are a number of different techniques used to perform female sterilisation
How Effective is it?
Sterilisation is an effective method of contraception but it does have a small failure risk. Failure rate may be higher depending on the age of the woman, when the procedure was done and what type of procedure was carried out. Failure rate is quoted as less than 1 pregnancy per 100 women over the first year after having the sterilisation procedure.
A small risk of pregnancy remains beyond the first year of use and until the woman reaches menopause.
Female sterilisation is intended to be permanent. Reversal of sterilisation can be difficult and expensive, and may not be available locally or on NHS. Success rates for reversal are low.
Sterilisation does not offer protection against sexually transmitted infections
Comments
There are no known side effects
There may be a risk of complication relating to the anaesthesia or surgery
Woman who were previously using hormonal contraception are likely to experience a change in their bleeding pattern. This is due to the withdrawal of the hormonal method and not the sterilisation procedure.
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