Alexa, 29, sterilization

Alexa, who had one child and knew she didn’t want to have more, grew tired of using temporary birth control methods. She was ready for a permanent solution and her doctor agreed that sterilization was a good choice for her.

The procedure itself was relatively easy. The whole thing was done in about an hour and the only side effects were a day’s worth of muscle soreness and two little scars, no bigger than pencil-top erasers. And since Alexa is in a monogamous relationship and not concerned about STIs, she’s now set to have worry-free sex for the rest of her life.