
Although the vasectomy procedure is the safest and most inexpensive option for permanent sterilization, female sterilization is still used about three times as often.
In addition, despite the vasectomy being the most effective form of contraception available, other less-reliable contraceptive methods such as the birth control pill and the intrauterine device, are used more frequently. The vasectomy is also much more cost-effective when compared to other methods used long term.
Below are comparisons of various forms of contraception, including the most reliable and overall inexpensive form of sterilization, the vasectomy.
Vasectomy
Tubal Ligation
Intrauterine Device (IUD)
Oral Contraceptive Pills
Condoms
Procedure
15 min office procedure
1 day hospitalization
15 min office procedure
N/A
N/A
Anesthesia
Local
General
None
N/A
N/A
Recovery
48 hours
1 week
None
N/A
N/A
Possible Complications
mild swelling, bruising.
Slight risk of infection/bleeding, mortality is 4 per 100,000.
Uterine perforation, irregular periods, infection, abdominal cramping.
Irregular periods, stroke, blood clots.
None
Failure Rate
<1%
2.00%
1.00%
>1%
>2%
Long Term Effects
None
Pelvic pain, post-tubal ligation syndrome.
Many
Inconvenient
Cost
$900.00
$1000 – $5000
$175 – $650 every 5 or 10 years
$15 – $50/mo
$2 – $6/pack
Vasectomy
Procedure
15 min office procedure
Anesthesia
Local
Recovery
48 hours
Possible Complications
mild swelling, bruising.
Failure Rate
<1%
Long Term Effects
None
Cost
$900.00
Tubal Ligation
Procedure
1 day hospitalization
Anesthesia
General
Recovery
1 week
Possible Complications
Slight risk of infection/bleeding, mortality is 4 per 100,000.
Failure Rate
2.00%
Long Term Effects
Pelvic pain, post-tubal ligation syndrome.
Cost
$1000 – $5000
Intrauterine Device (IUD)
Procedure
15 min office procedure
Anesthesia
None
Recovery
None
Possible Complications
Uterine perforation, irregular periods, infection, abdominal cramping.
Failure Rate
1.00%
Long Term Effects
Many
Cost
$175-650 every 5 or 10 years
Oral Contraceptive Pills
Procedure
N/A
Anesthesia
N/A
Recovery
N/A
Possible Complications
Irregular periods, stroke, blood clots.
Failure Rate
>1%
Long Term Effects
Many
Cost
$15 – $50/mo
Condoms
Procedure
N/A
Anesthesia
N/A
Recovery
N/A
Possible Complications
None
Failure Rate
>2%
Long Term Effects
Inconvenient
Cost
$2 – $6/pack