sterilization

Synonyms in a broader sense

vasectomy

English: sterilization

definition

Sterilization is a very good method of contraception after the desire to have children at an advanced age. In Germany, around 7% of women and 2% of men can be sterilized after family planning has been completed.

Do you want basic information about your options for contraception? You can find them all with us

• Overview of contraception methods

Male sterilization

Male sterilization (vasectomy) can be performed in about an hour by a surgeon or urologist.

The spermatic duct (Deferens duct) irreversibly severed. It is glued, overcooked or tied with clips so that no more sperm cells get into the seminal fluid (Ejaculate ) during ejaculation. The sperm then remain in the testicle.

Read more on the topic: Sperm

They survive there for some time and then, since they are not consumed, are broken down by other cells in the body.
The man does not need general anesthesia for this procedure; local anesthesia is sufficient.

Since some sperm are always located above the severing point in the spermatic duct, the man is not immediately infertile after an operation for sterilization (sterile). It takes about three months before there are really no sperm in the ejaculation.
The seminal fluid is examined for the presence of sperm at certain intervals to determine the exact infertility. This is done through a semen analysis. Only when there are no more sperm in the seminal fluid is the man considered sterile. Until then, other contraceptive methods must also be used

Sterilization in the woman

The sterilization the woman is due to the anatomical conditions of the Fallopian tubes (Tubae uterinae) made under general anesthesia.

The procedure is at Specialist in gynecology carried out either on an inpatient or outpatient basis. By a Laparoscopy (Laparoscopy) the fallopian tubes are cut. This is done analogously to the sterilization of the man by means of clips, sclerotherapy or gluing.

The sterilization is often carried out in another operation at the same time. Many women, even if they want to have children, let themselves be during one Caesarean section (Sectio caesarea) sterilize and save yourself another procedure.

safety

How safe the individual contraceptive methods are is checked in clinical studies. The reliability of a particular contraceptive may vary according to the Pearl Index (PI) are assessed.

The Pearl Index shows how many out of 100 women got pregnant using a single specific method of contraception in a specific period of time. A Pearl Index of 5, for example, means that 5 out of 100 women became pregnant using a certain method of contraception. The bigger is the numerical value of the Pearl Index, the more unsafe is the contraceptive.

The advantage of sterilization over some other contraceptives is its safety. With a Pearl index of 0.1 for men and 0.2-0.3 for women, sterilization is as very sure to judge.

consequences

From advantage is certainly also that you no longer have to worry about contraception after sterilization.

However, if you decide in favor of sterilization, it is very important disadvantageif in later years, for example, due to a new partner or similar but another wish for children arises. This is because undoing the sterilization (refertilization) is extremely difficult and only succeeds in rare cases.
Before each sterilization, you should carefully consider whether this is the right method of contraception for you. If you are not 100 percent sure that you might want to have another child later, you should use another method of contraception.

Complications

The operation is usually uncomplicated. One of the most common complications is injuring blood vessels in the oviduct or spermatic duct during surgery. Further complications and disadvantages can arise postoperatively.

After the operation, women may experience more of them Ectopic pregnancy (intrauterine pregnancy = IUG) come. This can happen when the sperm find a way through the blocked fallopian tube, which must have a weak point, and the egg cell (Oocyte) fertilize.
The then fertilized egg cell does not leave the fallopian tube afterwards, but accidentally settles in the mucous membrane of the fallopian tube. The woman then notices that the Menstrual bleeding and a drawing or colicky pain in the lower abdomen. It can be dangerous if this ectopic pregnancy tears off and there is heavy bleeding into the abdomen.

Occasionally the women report after sterilization Menstrual pain and increased and irregular bleeding. Inflammation can also occur postoperatively.

In men, after a sterilization procedure, inflammation of the Epididymis (Epididymidis) arise.

The sterilization has no influence on the production of sex hormones in the body. Also is sexual pleasure Not influenced.

The amount of seminal fluid (Ejaculate) during the (ejaculation) is slightly less than before because the sperm are missing. Nonetheless, there is ejaculation because the portion that is in the seminal vesicle (Seminal gland) and the Prostate gland seminal fluid formed is unaffected.