Lesson 6 of 10 · 7 min
Sterilisation and side effects
NCERT §3.2
Suresh and Latha have two children and are sure they want no more. They ask Dr Meera for 'something permanent'. Suresh's worry: will the operation make him less of a man?
The lesson in notes
In short
Surgical methods (sterilisation) are advised to the male or female partner as a terminal method, when no more pregnancies are wanted.
They block gamete transport and so prevent conception; gametes and hormones are still made.
Vasectomy (male): through a small cut in the scrotum, a short piece of the vas deferens is cut out or tied.
Tubectomy (female): through a small cut in the abdomen, or through the vagina, a short piece of the fallopian tube is cut out or tied.
Both are highly effective, but their reversibility is very poor.
The choice of method should always be made with qualified medical professionals.
Contraceptives are not regular requirements for reproductive health; they work against a natural event, conception, and are used to prevent, delay or space pregnancy.
Their wide use has helped check population growth. Possible ill-effects such as nausea, abdominal pain, breakthrough bleeding, irregular menstrual bleeding and even breast cancer are not very significant, yet they must not be ignored.