Definition & Meaning of "sterilization"

What is "sterilization"?

Sterilization is a procedure aimed at permanently preventing reproduction in people or animals. In humans, sterilization often involves surgical methods such as tying or blocking the fallopian tubes in women, known as tubal ligation, or cutting or blocking the tubes that carry sperm from the testicles in men, known as vasectomy. These methods involve blocking or removing reproductive organs to permanently prevent pregnancy. Similarly, in animals, sterilization procedures such as the removal of ovaries and uterus in females, known as spaying, and the removal of testicles in males, known as neutering, help control reproduction and can also provide health benefits.