Following is an excerpt from the ACOG, American Congress of Obstetrians and Gynecologists

What is sterilization?

Sterilization is a permanent method of birth control. Sterilization procedures for women are called tubal occlusion. The procedure for men is called vasectomy.

How does tubal occlusion work to prevent pregnancy?

Tubal occlusion closes off the fallopian tubes. This prevents the egg from moving down the fallopian tube to the uterus and keeps the sperm from reaching the egg. Eggs are blocked and absorbed by the body.

How effective is female sterilization?

Sterilization is a highly effective way to prevent pregnancy. Fewer than 1 out of 100 women will become pregnant within 1 year of having the procedure. After 10 years, pregnancy rates range from fewer than 1 to fewer than 4 women out of 100, depending on the type of sterilization method used.

Does female sterilization protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs)?

Female sterilization does not protect against sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A condom should be used to protect against these infections if you are at risk of getting an STI.

Are there risks associated with female sterilization?

A risk common to all female sterilization methods is that if pregnancy does occur, there is an increased chance that it will be an ectopic pregnancy. However, the risk of ectopic pregnancy occurring in women after tubal sterilization is lower than in women who do not use any birth control. Other risks are specific to the type of procedure.

How is female sterilization performed?

There are three ways that sterilization for women can be performed:

• Minilaparotomy - A small incision is made in the abdomen. The fallopian tubes are brought up through the incision. Then they are blocked with clips or, more commonly, a small section of each tube is removed. This approach frequently is used for postpartum sterilization.
• Laparoscopy - This is a type of surgical procedure that uses a device called a laparoscope to view the pelvic organs. The fallopian tubes are closed off using instruments passed through the laparoscope or with another instrument inserted through a second small incision.
• Hysteroscopy - Hysteroscopic sterilization, or the Essure procedure, do not require incisions in the skin. It can be done with local anesthesia in a health care provider's office. Small devices are placed into the openings of the fallopian tubes. The devices cause scar tissue to form that blocks the fallopian tubes. After having the procedure, it takes 3 months for the scar tissue to form. During this time, you must use another form of birth control to prevent pregnancy. A test must be performed to ensure that the tubes are blocked before you can use it as your only method of birth control.

The vas deferens is one of two tubes that carry sperm from the testes. In a vasectomy, these tubes are tied, cut, clipped, or sealed to prevent the release of sperm. This prevents a woman's egg from being fertilized with the man's sperm.

The effectiveness of vasectomy in preventing pregnancy after 1 year is slightly higher than that of female sterilization. As with female sterilization, vasectomy does not protect against STIs.

How is a vasectomy done?

One or two small openings are made in the skin of the scrotum. Each vas deferens is pulled through the opening until it forms a loop. A small section is cut out of the loop and removed. The two ends are tied and may be sealed with heat. This causes scar tissue to grow and block the tubes. Each vas deferens then is placed back into the scrotum. There also is a "no-scalpel" technique that does not require incisions in the skin. It can be done with local anesthesia in a health care provider's office.

How long does it take for a vasectomy to work?

It takes about 2-4 months for the semen to become totally free of sperm. A couple must use another method of birth control or avoid sexual intercourse until a sperm count confirms that no sperm are present. In this test, the number of sperm in a semen sample is counted.

What are the benefits and risks of vasectomy?

Vasectomy generally is considered to be safer than female sterilization and requires only local anesthesia. Also, there is no increased risk of ectopic pregnancy if the vasectomy fails. Risks of vasectomy include minor bleeding and infection. Major complications are rare.

Can sterilization be reversed?

Sterilization is permanent birth control and is not meant to be reversible. Before having the procedure, you (and your partner) must be certain that you do not want children in the future. If you have a sterilization procedure and you change your mind after the operation, you can have surgery to try to reverse it, or assisted reproductive technology can be used to attempt pregnancy. These procedures are expensive and may not be covered by insurance. There also is no guarantee that you will be able to become pregnant afterward.

For more information on sterilization options, please make an appointment with one of our doctors.

The depth and breadth of the American Red Cross is remarkable - from disaster response to assisting military families in need, the Red Cross helps prevent and alleviate human suffering. They are there for the millions of people affected by a large emergency, or small.

In 2014 alone, the American Red Cross North Jersey Region, with the support of more than 3,330 volunteers and 53 employees:

• Responded to 494 disasters, including house fires, severe storms and flooding
• Continued to provide support to families affected by Superstorm Sandy
• Assisted more than 1,130 families affected by disasters such as home fires
• Offered comfort and immediate needs such as shelter, food, clothing, referrals and mental health services as needed
• Empowered 60,441 residents with life-saving health, safety and preparedness information and skills through training courses such as First Aid, CPR, Water Safety and Babysitter's Training
• Provided 1,877 military family case services with emergency messages, helping families find assistance and/or get counseling and referrals
• Collected more than 25,421 units of blood donated by New Jersey residents (each unit helps to save three lives)

On Thursday, April 30, 2015, the Red Cross will hold its annual Celebrate Red! gala at The Stone House in Warren, New Jersey. They will honor the generosity of outstanding New Jersey heroes who are strengthening the foundation and supporting the growth of Red Cross services in our communities. 

The evening will include seasonal, farm-to-table cuisine, fireside cocktails, live music & dancing and a fabulous auction all in the chic, contemporary setting of The Stone House. For more information or to purchase tickets, click here.
 

Recently, we hosted a dinner party at our home, setting the table with our good Waterford crystal. As my wife was decanting a fresh bottle of wine for our guests, a small ball our son was playing with flew across the table and clipped one of the glasses and broke it. My wife exclaimed with a hint of remorse "down to two Waterford's from the original wedding set." 

The Saavy Parent, a local, trusted advisor to expectant parents and new families, offers several classes that include topics such as childbirth, general infant care, feeding and nutrition, newborn sleep and mother's postpartum care.

They recently added a new class to their offering, called Baby-Set-Go, a four-week course led by their pediatric nurse practitioners, that discusses evidence-based information and advice on topics such as sleep, nutrition, calming a fussy baby (colic vs. reflux), techniques to bond with baby, infant massage, establishing routines, vaccination schedules, child care decisions and developmental needs. The class is for moms and babies under six months of age. For more information, visit their website: The Saavy Parent Classes.

 The Rubino OB/GYN Group On LinkedIn

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You can pay your Rubino OB/GYN Group bills online right from the homepage of our website. Simply click on the button at the top of the page that says "New! Pay Your Bill Online!".

Options include paying by credit card or  echeck. It is an easy one-time registration to create a password.

For easy reference, the direct link is: Pay My Bill.