Sterilization (human, elective procedures)

Surgical sterilization procedures are operations designed to eliminate fertility. In people, these procedures involve disrupting the normal channels that mature gamete cells (ovum and sperm) use for transport to the uterus. In men, that means blocking the vas deferens, so that sperm cannot exit the body. In women, that blockage is placed in the fallopian tube so that ovum cannot reach the uterus. Although there is some success in reversing these procedures, that success is limited and, generally, these surgical means of contraception are permanent.

In animals, surgical sterilization ordinarily involves removal of the gonads such that the animal not only no longer produces gametes (ova or sperm) but that the animal no longer produces the normal sexual hormones of its kind. Although removal both testes in a man, and both ovaries in a woman does certainly cause sterility, these procedures are never done ethically to prevent reproduction, but instead, when performed, are done for treatment of disease. For surgical sterilization in animals, see Desexing operations.

Fallopian tube procedures

Immediately after full-term pregnancy

Surgical access to the fallopian tubes is easier just after a woman gives birth to a full term baby. That's because the enlarged uterus lifts these ducts up towards the anterior abdominal wall and a small incision in the region of the umbilicus (belly button) can give sufficient exposure to perform the surgery. In many parts of the world, consent for elective surgical sterilization must be given seperately in both time and place from the performance of that procedure. Women who are pregnant and who would like to have this particular pregnancy be the last one are usually advised by their physician or other health care provider to arrange in advance for surgical disruption of the fallopian tubes after the baby is born. In some regions, this permission must be formalized at least 1 month before the procedure is carried out.