What it means
In infection control and surgery, an item is sterile when every microorganism on it, including spores, has been destroyed by sterilizationstair-uh-luh-ZAY-shunA process that destroys all microorganisms, including spores, on an item; also a permanent birth control procedure.Full entry . Sterility is kept by sterile technique, and it is lost the moment the item touches something that is not sterile. In reproductive health, sterility means being unable to conceive or father a child, a permanent form of infertilityin-fer-TIL-ih-teeNot being able to become pregnant after a year of regular sex without birth control, or after six months for women over 35.Full entry .
Related terms
infertility
Not being able to become pregnant after a year of regular sex without birth control, or after six months for women over 35.
sterilization
A process that destroys all microorganisms, including spores, on an item; also a permanent birth control procedure.
surgical asepsis
Practices that keep an area or object completely free of microorganisms; also called sterile technique.
sterile field
An area set up with sterile drapes and supplies, kept free of all germs, for a sterile procedure.