Final answer:
Male sterilization, often achieved with a vasectomy, is a surgical procedure preventing ejaculation of viable sperm and is generally irreversible. In contrast, female sterilization involves tubal ligation, where the Fallopian tubes are closed off. Other related biological concepts include sex change in species like oysters and uniparental reproduction known as parthenogenesis in some vertebrates.
Step-by-step explanation:
If one sex is sterile, it is usually the male, for example a man who has undergone a vasectomy; this is called "male sterilization".Sterilization is the most effective contraceptive method, and it generally involves a surgical procedure that is considered irreversible. Male sterilization is typically achieved through a vasectomy, where the vas deferens are sealed to prevent sperm from being ejaculated in semen. On the other hand, female sterilization is often accomplished through a tubal ligation, where the Fallopian tubes are closed off to prevent sperm from reaching and fertilizing the eggs.
There are other biological phenomena related to sex change and reproduction. For instance, some species exhibit protogyny or "first female" and protandry or "first male," where individuals change sex during their lifetime, like the case with oysters and wrasses. Additionally, there is a form of uniparental reproduction called parthenogenesis in which offspring are produced without fertilization, resulting only in female progeny in some species like whiptail lizards.