Well, I am a sterilized female. I had my tubes "tied" during the c-section for my second child when I was in my late thirties. Pregnancy was tough on me, and at my age, I (and my husband) decided not to try for any more. We had two children at that point.

I hear for a male and for a female the surgery is not so bad. Of course, it's more easily done on the male.

No birth control technique (except abstinence) is 100% pregnancy proof, although hubby and I had no unplanned pregnancies with condoms and spermicide. I tell you, as soon as we stopped, we were in the baby business in a month or two!

If you both are sure you don't want any children, then sterilization would be fine, as far as I am concerned. I think it would be good for your girlfriend to talk to her gynecologist about it. Some docs are hesitant if a woman has never had any children and is still young.

That's my take on the matter, anyway.