Category
Threshold Criteria
Both female and male sterilisation is regarded as permanent and reversal of sterilisation is NOT ROUTINELY FUNDED by the LLR ICB.
Research demonstrates a higher incidence of regret among younger females who undergo sterilisation, therefore careful consideration should be given to long acting reversible contraceptives as these have been shown to be as effective.
Women who request sterilisation and meet the criteria below should be referred to a secondary care provider.
Men requesting a sterilisation (vasectomy) and meet the criteria below should be referred to a primary care vasectomy service if clinically appropriate. The primary care vasectomy service provides vasectomies under LOCAL ANAESTHETIC. Men who have contraindications to local anaesthetic and/ or have coexisting urological conditions which is likely to require scrotal surgery e.g. large hydrocele or large epididymal cyst should be referred to a urology secondary care provider so both procedures can be done at the same time.
Eligibility
| LLR ICB will fund this procedure if the following criteria is met – If the woman is certain her family is complete or that she never wants children AND – The woman has received counselling about her options including consideration of all other forms of long acting contraception. If she has a partner has he considered vasectomy AND – The woman is of sound mental capacity AND – The woman has trialled long acting reversible contraception for at least 12 months e.g. levonorgestrel intrauterine system, etonogestrel, sub dermal implant or Depot Medroxyprogesterone Acetate injection, or a copper IUCD for women with a history of breast or other hormonal cancer OR The woman declines a trial of long acting reversible contraception after counselling OR The woman has a medical condition making pregnancy dangerous AND – Aged 25 years or more Where BMI is over 35 Referral should be made to the weight management Tier 3 service as per referral criteria. Patients can be referred to service but should be advised that Laparoscopic Sterilisation is unlikely to be suitable method of contraception and we would recommend counselling about the anaesthetic risk. |
Exceptions to this policy
- Where sterilisation is to take place at the time of another procedure i.e. caesarean section
- Where there is a contraindication to the use of a long acting reversible contraception
- Where there is an absolute contraindication to pregnancy
Eligibility for Male Sterilisation (Vasectomy)
| LLR ICB will fund this procedure if the following criteria are met. Where clinically appropriate this procedure should be performed in a primary care service. – The man is certain his family is complete or that he never wants children – The man is of sound mental capacity – Has been counselled regarding the permanency of the procedure and other contraceptive options explored If the man is not suitable to have a vasectomy in primary care, the primary care vasectomy service will facilitate a referral to secondary care. |
Exceptions to this policy
- Where sterilisation is to take place at the same time as another scrotal procedure
- If the man has any contraindications to local anaesthetic
- Where the man has a co-existing urological problem
Guidance
| ARP 89 Review Date: 2027 |
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