Male and Female Sterilisation

This guidance provides evidence-based recommendations and good practice points for health professionals on elective male sterilisation (vasectomy) and female sterilisation (tubal occlusion) in the UK. It is intended for any health care professional or service that undertakes or refers individuals for either procedure. This guidance has been jointly developed with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

This is a summary of the recommendations made in the FSRH Clinical Guidance Male and Female Sterilisation. This guidance has been jointly developed with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG).

NICE supports the use of hysteroscopic sterilisation provided that normal arrangements are in place for clinical governance and audit.

Essure® is a form of female sterilisation which involves the hysteroscopic insertion of flexible micro-inserts into the proximal section of the fallopian tubes and is undertaken without general anaesthesia.

A large observational study from the United States found that the risk of unintended pregnancy after Essure sterilisation was similar to that after surgical sterilisation. However just over 2% of women who had Essure sterilisation required a further operation related to the sterilisation procedure within a year.