绝育手术指以手术方式使动物不再具有生殖能力，但并不完全等同结扎手术。

一般在人类上，单纯为求避孕而进行预防性的绝育手术为结扎手术。好处是在希望能怀孕时或是生命规划的怀孕时间时，可以输精管复通术和输卵管复通术来达到目的。

而另一种预防式的绝育手术为子宫卵巢摘除术及睾丸摘除术。此方式为不可逆手术，一旦进行了便不可能再次回复怀孕的可能性。因此除非是肿瘤等问题，一般人类不太会选择此方式进行绝育手术。通常是动物进行较多，较常见的为犬、猫等伴侣动物。

Sterilization (also spelled sterilisation) is any of a number of medical techniques that intentionally leave a person unable to reproduce. It is a method of birth control. For other causes of sterility, see infertility. Sterilization methods include both surgical and non-surgical, and exist for both males and females. Sterilization procedures are intended to be permanent; reversal is generally difficult or impossible.