What is permanent contraception?
Permanent contraception is "forever" birth control.
Permanent contraception, or permanent birth control, is any procedure that prevents pregnancy for the rest of your life.
Traditional procedures for permanent contraception are tubal ligation (or "having your tubes tied") for women, and vasectomy for men. Both of these procedures require surgical incisions.
The next generation of permanent contraception involves a minimally invasive procedure to prevent pregnancy. This means that it does not require any incisions, or cutting of the skin, to perform.
How is permanent contraception different from temporary birth control?
- With temporary birth control, you can always change your mind.
You can stop using temporary birth control at any time if you decide you want to have children. Diaphragms, condoms, spermicides, birth control pills, and IUDs are all forms of temporary contraception. - Permanent birth control is forever.
It is not considered reversible. Therefore, only those women (or couples) who are certain they do not want any children in the future should consider permanent birth control. - Permanent contraception does not provide protection from sexually transmitted diseases.
Other than abstinence, latex condoms offer the most effective protection from sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), including HIV (the virus that causes AIDS).
See chart comparing different methods of permanent contraception
