Surgical Birth Control Options

Surgical birth control options create a more permanent solution to the question of contraception. The option for surgical sterilization is available through a doctor's care only. Surgical birth control can have side effects depending upon the method, such as hormone fluctuations or menopause symptoms. Reversal of surgical birth control is expensive and may not be possible, so the consequences should be considered carefully when choosing this option.

Before Surgery

• Visit a doctor specializing in reproductive health or a gynecologist to discuss surgical birth control options. The option for surgical birth control is best for those who have no plans to begin or to increase their family. Since surgical birth control is rarely reversible, the doctor may assess the patient's health history and recommend less permanent options.

  Once surgery is decided, the doctor will discuss the procedure and any side effects. Surgical birth control may be invasive and can have an effect on the body's chemical balance, particularly for women. These effects should be discussed beforehand so the patient is prepared. Medications such as antibiotics may be required before surgery.

Female Options

• Female options for surgical birth control include tubal litigation and hysterectomy. Tubal litigation is the process of sealing off the fallopian tubes using a clamp, band, knot or cautery. This prevents mature eggs from entering the reproductive tract, rendering fertilization impossible. Tubal litigation is sometimes reversible but this is an expensive option. The surgery is not invasive and does not affect hormone balances, so side effects are minimal. Tubal litigation is effective immediately but does not prevent against sexually transmitted diseases. Even though this is a surgical method of birth control, it should be noted that there is still a small possibility of becoming pregnant, and should this happen the chances of an ectopic pregnancy are increased.

  A hysterectomy is a more invasive procedure and involves removal of part or all of the uterus and ovaries. Women who have had hysterectomies cannot become pregnant and hysterectomies are not reversible. This surgery is often done for women who have a risk of certain types of cancer such as uterine or ovarian cancer, or who have aggressive illnesses that do not respond to treatment, with birth control being a side effect of the surgery.

  Hysterectomies cause immediate menopause if the ovaries have been removed. This results in hormone-related side effects such as hot flashes, irregular or absent menstruation, mood swings and vaginal dryness. Hormone replacement therapy may be recommended for women who have had hysterectomies performed. This surgery has a recovery period of two to eight weeks.

Male Options

• Vasectomies are a method of male sterilization. During a vasectomy the vas deferens, which carries the sperm into the semen, is severed. After the operation, sexual function remains the same, only the ejaculate contains no sperm. This prevents a female partner from becoming pregnant, even if she is ovulating during intercourse.

  Vasectomies are not immediately effective, and other methods of birth control need to be used to prevent pregnancy until a semen analysis shows no sperm. They should be considered permanent, as surgery to reverse the process may not be effective. The side effects of a vasectomy are limited, and vasectomies do not affect the man's hormones or sex drive.