Female sterilisation

What it is

An operation to block or cut the fallopian tubes.

How it works

Eggs cannot travel down the cut or blocked tubes to meet sperm.

Advantages

Permanent method of contraception.

Disadvantages

Does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs).

In rare cases fallopian tubes can rejoin.

How effective is it?

Over 99% effective. This means that fewer than one in every hundred women who have been sterilised will get pregnant each year.

Can anyone use this method?

This method is usually only chosen by women who are not intending to have any (further) children. For this reason it is rarely performed on young women.