This brief focuses on the following points:

• Female sterilization is the most widely used modern method in the world, including developing regions and many developed countries such as the United States.
• Female sterilization is a safe, highly effective, relatively simple, surgical means of contraception that can usually be provided in an outpatient setting and is intended to be permanent.
• Effective FP/RH programs should have an active, accessible, voluntary female sterilization component that delivers quality services to women who make a free and informed choice for this method from within a range of contraceptive options.