These tools will no longer be maintained as of December 31, 2024. Archived website can be found here. PubMed4Hh GitHub repository can be found here. Contact NLM Customer Service if you have questions.


Pubmed for Handhelds

PUBMED FOR HANDHELDS

Search MEDLINE/PubMed

  • Title: Contraceptive sterilization: trends, options, and surprising new data.
    Author: Burkman RT.
    Journal: Dialogues Contracept; 1997; 5(2):5-7. PubMed ID: 12292544.
    Abstract:
    In the US, 24% of women aged 15-50 rely on female or male sterilization for contraception. While all methods of sexual sterilization are highly effective, new data indicate that the risk of pregnancy after female sterilization varies according to type of procedure performed and the woman's age, but at 18.5/1000 procedures the risk is higher than previously believed. About 30% of all tubal sterilization failures result in ectopic pregnancy, with the greatest risk occurring 2-3 years after the procedure. Female sterilization can be performed at a time unrelated to conclusion of pregnancy or during the postpartum or postabortion periods using the minilaparotomy or laparoscopy surgical approach and surgical ligation or mechanical or electrical occlusion. Location of the vasa deferentia for occlusion in vasectomy can be achieved through two small incisions or with the no-scalpel method. Various methods are used to achieve occlusion. With a first-year pregnancy rate of only 0.15%, vasectomy is superior to female sterilization in terms of efficacy, safety, procedural complexity, and cost. The disadvantages of female sterilization include regret, the rare occurrence of surgical complications, a small risk of death (4/100,000), an increased risk of subsequent hysterectomy among younger women undergoing tubal ligation, and menstrual pain. Tubal sterilization, however, may protect against ovarian cancer. The few disadvantages associated with vasectomy include the small risk of immediate complications and regret. Because of the permanent nature of sterilization, effective counseling is important and should include presentation of information about the reversible, longterm contraceptive methods available to women.
    [Abstract] [Full Text] [Related] [New Search]