How women felt about their sterilization--a follow-up of 368 patients in a general practice.

As a sequel to a questionnaire survey of sterilized patients in a general practice, 368 women were interviewed to assess outcome. Two hundred and ninety-two (79.3 per cent) were pleased with the operation and 76 (20.7 per cent) expressed regrets, though more than half of these (56.6 per cent) said they thought they would have chosen the operation again in the same circumstances. Of the women who were 30 years or over at time of operation, 14 per cent expressed regrets, compared with 39 per cent who were sterilized under 30 years of age (p<0.001). The regretful women were also more likely to have had clinical indications for operation, major contraceptive problems before operation, a history of attempted suicide and were less likely to have discussed vasectomy (p<0.05). The main changes reported after sterilization were a worsening in menstruation for 154 (42.2 per cent) and improvement in sex life for 133 (36.2 per cent) and in family life for 137 (37.2 per cent).