What are vasectomy and tubal ligation?
These are two surgical procedures for permanent birth control. Vasectomy is sterilization in men, where the vas deferens (two tiny tubes, one connected to each testicle) are cut to prevent the semen from being ejaculated. Tubal ligation is sterilization for women, where the fallopian tubes are ligated (tied by sutures) to prevent the ova (eggs) from being transported to the uterus. Are these procedures permanent? While very rare and practically unheard of, there are case reports in the medical literature of spontaneous recanalization (where the cut channels, either vas deferens or fallopian tubes, rejoined together on their own to re-establish the channels), making pregnancy possible once again. However, for all intents and purposes, once vasectomy or tubal ligation is done, these should be considered permanent sterilization. How common and how safe are these procedures? In the United States, where family planning is seriously practiced, one partner is sterilized in about 1/3 of all ma
