Sterilization is extremely effective and is intended to be permanent. Nevertheless, about 5 of every 1,000 women become pregnant within a year after the procedure and that small risk remains until menopause, so you should get a pregnancy test if you’re concerned.
Sterilization
I'm having pregnancy symptoms—is it possible I could be pregnant even though I've been sterilized?
My partner and I are sure we don't want to have [more] children, but I'm not thrilled by the prospect of surgery. What are our alternatives?
Sterilization for women is pretty safe so you shouldn’t worry too much about the surgery, but a vasectomy (male sterilization) is even lower risk, so you and your partner might want to look into that first.
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What are the best methods that my partner won't notice?
Some methods are much easier to hide than others. The shot and the implant are invisible, so nobody will know you’re using birth control. The IUD is also very discrete, so that’s another possibility, though some guys may be able to feel the strings during sex. And if you are looking for a permanent solution, sterilization surgery is also undetectable, but there may be age restrictions and waiting periods for this procedure.
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Is there male birth control?
The only birth control options for guys that are currently available are condoms, sterilization, and the withdrawal method. There have been some promising leads for other options, but they’re still in development.
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Can I get pregnant if I've had endometrial ablation?
In short, yes.
While pregnancy’s not likely — and not recommended — after ablation, it can happen, so women who have had an endometrial ablation (a.k.a. uterine ablation) should use birth control until after menopause. While it may be possible to get pregnant after this procedure, pregnancy after endometrial ablation can be complicated, so you shouldn’t get the procedure unless you’re sure you don’t want (more) kids. Sterilization may be a good option if you’ve had an endometrial ablation to make sure you never have to worry about an unplanned pregnancy.
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