Female and male sterilization are different than other contraceptive methods in that they do not require acquisition of a specific contraceptive commodity. Female and male sterilization do require special clinical training, administration of anesthesia, and use of drugs for pain management. Additionally, these methods require infection prevention equipment and supplies for health worker protection and for decontamination and sterilization of instruments. There are also special considerations required for maintaining quality of service and availability which can be more challenging when forecasting for the equipment and supplies needed to provide these methods.

Supportive program environments that want to ensure an expanded method mix including permanent methods, must consider the financial resources, provider capacity, and logistics systems needed to offer female and male sterilization. Supportive policies and financing mechanisms must be in place to support a national contraceptive security strategy that includes permanent methods.

Supportive policies could include:

• Essential drug and equipment lists that include the equipment and supplies needed for sterilization.
• Advocacy programs that highlight the investments needed for clinical training, commodities, equipment, and supplies needed to provide female and male sterilization as well as the benefits of these investments.
• Health workers should be trained to provide counseling and education to clients so that a client may make an informed contraceptive choice.
• Requirements for these methods to be incorporated into national planning, budgets, purchasing, distribution, and support.

The Logistics section of the Permanent Methods Toolkit discusses logistics of providing female and male sterilization so programs can expand method mix available to clients when and where they need them.

For general family planning resources related to procurement, logistics and supply chain management, check out our Family Planning Logistics Toolkit.