Abstract

A follow-up study with questionnaires was performed 4-8 years after laparoscopic sterilization. The follow-up questionnaires were answered for 90.5%. The study revealed that 7.1% of the women were dissatisfied at some stage with the decision to undergo sterilization. However, only 1.8% requested reversal of the sterilization. 40% of the dissatisfied women were between 25-29 years of age, and every fifth sterilized woman in this age group regretted the sterilization.

PIP:

To learn more about the extent of and factors associated with regret after laparoscopic sterilization, 659 (90%) of the 755 women who underwent this procedure at Denmark's Herlev Hospital in 1980-83 completed a postal questionnaire in 1987. The questionnaire revealed that, 4-8 years after sterilization, 612 women (93%) were satisfied with the procedure and 47 (7%) had regrets. Parity did not differ significantly between the 2 groups of women (2.4 children among satisfied sterilization acceptors compared to 2.0 among unsatisfied women). Age at sterilization, however, emerged as a significant factor. The mean age of satisfied acceptors was 35.4 years compared to 31.7 years among those who regretted their decision; 40% of women in the latter group were 29 years of age or under. Another significant difference between the 2 groups was in the information provided before surgery. Of the women who regretted undergoing sterilization, 28% felt they had received inadequate counseling and 13% claimed they were not fully informed about the questionable reversibility of the procedure; these percentages among women who were satisfied were 7% and 6%, respectively. The cause of regret in 70% of unsatisfied women was the desire for another pregnancy, generally as a result of remarriage. Of the 47 women who regretted the sterilization, only 12 sought reversal and 7 underwent tubal reanastomosis.