Tubal sterilization in women 15-24 years of age: demographic trends in the United States, 1970-1980.

Between 1970-1980, approximately 942,000 women 15-24 years of age underwent tubal sterilization in the United States. These women represented about 17 per cent of all women ages 15-44 years who underwent tubal sterilization in the United States during this 11-year period. During 1970-1980, sterilization rates rose steadily from three per 1,000 to 11 per 1,000 for women in the 20- to 24-year age group, but remained stable at less than one per 1,000 for women in the 15- to 19-year age group. For each year, rates for Black women were greater than those for White women. Sterilization rates increased over the time period for both currently and previously married women, but remained low for never-married women. Most tubal sterilizations were performed after delivery of an infant.