Sterilization
By Mayo Clinic staffThe reproductive life span for men and women encompasses many years. Healthy women are fertile until about the age of 50. Healthy men are fertile essentially throughout adult life. Sterilization was first introduced as a means of family planning for women 40 and older who had eight or more children. Sterilization became more common by the late 1960s, and today, many couples opt for sterilization as a permanent means of birth control.
Sterilization methods include:
- For women — tubal ligation and Essure coils
- For men — vasectomy
