PERMANENT METHODS OF BIRTH CONTROL
Women and men who have completed their families, or who know they do not want any children, may want a permanent method of birth control.
Permanent methods may be appropriate for mature women and men who find that:
• their partners agree that their families are complete, and no more children are wanted
• they want to enjoy having sex without causing pregnancy
• they don’t want to have a child in the future
• they and their partners have concerns about the side effects of other methods
• other methods are unacceptable
• the woman’s health would be threatened by a future pregnancy
• they don’t want to pass on a hereditary illness or disability
• they are men who choose vasectomy to spare their partners the surgery and expense of tubal sterilization. (Sterilization for women is more complicated and costly.)
Permanent methods are not appropriate for women or men if:
• they want to have a child in the future
• they are being pressured by their partners, friends, or family
• they have marriage or sexual problems, short-term mental or physical illnesses, or financial worries, or are out of work. Permanent methods are not good solutions for temporary problems
• they have not considered possible changes in their lives such as divorce, remarriage, or the death of their children.
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