Making a person unable to reproduce. Sterilization may be undertaken simply to prevent conception (“contraceptive sterilization”), to prevent inheritance of a mental or physical disability or disease (“eugenic sterilization”), or because bearing children would be harmful to the individual (“therapeutic sterilization”). To prevent inappropriate sterilizations, especially of those unable to give voluntary consent, there are often special laws concerning consent for sterilization. For example, federal regulations govern all sterilizations performed under federally financed programs. Those regulations require, among other things, that the person to be sterilized be at least 21 years old, not institutionalized, and fully informed about the procedure, and that he wait for 30 days after giving consent except in an emergency.