# Permanent contraception: vasectomy and female sterilisation > Over 99% effective, but meant to be for life. What to know before you decide. Category: Contraception · 5 min read · Written by the Splash team · Sources checked October 2026 URL: https://splash.care/learn/contraception/vasectomy-and-sterilisation ## Quick answer - Vasectomy and female sterilisation are over 99% effective and meant to be permanent. - After a vasectomy, use other contraception until a semen test shows no sperm. - Reversal is hard and not usually on the NHS, so be sure before you choose. - Neither protects against STIs. Some people know they never want to get [pregnant](https://splash.care/learn/fertility-ttc/early-pregnancy-signs), or never want to cause a pregnancy. Others are sure their family is complete. For them, permanent [contraception](https://splash.care/learn/contraception/methods-overview) can be a good fit. There are two main kinds: a **vasectomy** (for people with testicles) and **female sterilisation** (for people with fallopian tubes). Both are over 99% effective. ## Vasectomy - A short operation, usually about 15 minutes under local anaesthetic. The tubes that carry sperm are cut, blocked or sealed. - It does not change your [sex drive](https://splash.care/learn/body-literacy/libido-cycle), erections or ejaculation. Semen looks the same, but it has no sperm in it. - It is **not effective straight away**. Sperm are still in the tubes at first, so you need other contraception for at least 8 to 12 weeks. Local services often ask for a semen test at around 12 to 16 weeks, and sometimes a second test. - Only stop using other contraception when a clinic tells you the semen test shows no sperm. - Bruising, swelling and a sore scrotum for a few days are common, and so is a little blood in semen for the first few times. A small number of people have longer-lasting aching. - Very rarely, the cut ends can rejoin years later and a pregnancy can happen. ## Female sterilisation - An operation in hospital that blocks or closes the fallopian tubes so an egg cannot meet sperm. - It is permanent, so other long-term methods such as the implant or coils are usually offered first because they are reversible. - It is more than 99% effective. Rarely it does not work, and if you do become pregnant after sterilisation there is a higher chance the pregnancy is ectopic. Get urgent help for sudden one-sided tummy pain. - As with any operation, there is a small risk of infection, blood [clots](https://splash.care/learn/period-care/clots) or damage to a nearby organ. > Neither operation protects against STIs. Condoms are still the way to do that. ## Thinking it through - Both are meant to be permanent. Reversal is difficult, often does not work, and is not usually available on the NHS. - You should be offered counselling. It is fine to talk it over with a partner, but you do not legally need their permission. - A GP can decline to refer you if they do not think it is right for you yet, especially if you are young or have no children. You can ask for a second opinion. - It is free on the NHS in much of the UK, but waiting lists can be long. Some people pay privately. - If you want to keep your options open, a long-acting reversible method such as a coil or the implant is just as effective and can be removed whenever you choose. > **Splash says:** if you or your partner had a vasectomy recently, keep using condoms or another method until a semen test gives the all-clear. Add a reminder to Splash so you do not forget the test. ### When to see a doctor See a GP or call 111 if after a vasectomy you have a high temperature, increasing swelling or pain, or the wound is leaking. After female sterilisation, get urgent help for a high temperature, a swollen or leaking wound, a swollen painful leg, trouble breathing or chest pain. Call 999 for severe breathlessness or chest pain. **Quick quiz:** When can someone stop using other contraception after a vasectomy? 1. The next day 2. After a week 3. Only when a semen test shows no sperm Answer: Only when a semen test shows no sperm. Sperm stay in the tubes for weeks. Semen tests, usually from around 12 to 16 weeks, show when it is working. ## Sources 1. [NHS – Female sterilisation](https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/methods-of-contraception/female-sterilisation/) 2. [NHS 111 Wales – Vasectomy](https://111.wales.nhs.uk/encyclopaedia/v/article/vasectomy/) 3. [NHS – How well contraception works at preventing pregnancy](https://www.nhs.uk/contraception/choosing-contraception/how-well-it-works-at-preventing-pregnancy/) This is general information, not medical advice. Splash can’t diagnose. If you’re worried, talk to a GP, pharmacist or sexual health clinic. In an emergency call 999 (UK) or 911 (US).