The surgical technique for females that can be used to prevent pregnancy.

TUBECTOMY (also accepted: tubal ligation, female sterilisation).

In a tubectomy the FALLOPIAN TUBES are cut and tied (ligated) or blocked. The ovum released at ovulation can then no longer travel down the tube, and sperm cannot reach it, so fertilisation is impossible.

THE PAIR TO LEARN, because the paper may ask for either: TUBECTOMY — female; the FALLOPIAN TUBES are cut and tied. VASECTOMY — male; the VAS DEFERENS is cut and tied, so sperm cannot pass into the semen. The name gives the structure away in both cases — TUBE-ectomy and VAS-ectomy — so read the word rather than memorising which is which.

Note what these operations do NOT do: a tubectomy does not stop ovulation, menstruation or the secretion of hormones, and a vasectomy does not stop the production of testosterone. Both are SURGICAL and are regarded as PERMANENT methods, which distinguishes them from temporary methods such as the condom, the diaphragm, the IUD (copper T) and oral pills.