Some individuals do not desire to ever have children, or are done with that stage in their life and want a way to remove the uncertainty without having to take a daily pill or use other forms of contraception. Permanent sterilization is the best way for this to occur. Planned Parenthood clinics offer sterilization procedures to both men and women, as well as counseling and lengthy discussion to make sure the patients know exactly what they are getting into and the permanence of this choice. A staff member will discuss the process with the patient, which for women involves blocking or sealing the fallopian tubes, and for men involves severing the vas deferens and then sealing the ends so that sperm cannot escape. Some men think that a vasectomy is reversible, but the process is painful and meant to be permanent. The procedure for both men and women is surgical, and is usually performed as outpatient so patients can return home the same day. They are usually told to take it easy for a few days, since the incision site will be sore. For men, the failure rate is about 1 in 2000, while for women the failure rate is closer to 1 in 300.

Some Planned Parenthood clinics do offer these procedures, but even the ones that don’t will still offer information and counseling. One thing that patients who choose this method of contraception must remember is that they will not be protected in any way against STDs. Unless both partners have been tested for disease and are completely monogamous, individuals should still use a condom for every sexual encounter to ensure complete protection and safety. Permanent sterilization is a way for both men and women who do not desire to ever conceive children to eliminate the worry of an unwanted pregnancy.