Long-term Effects of Sterilization on Women

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the results of telephone interviews with 210 patients concerning their gynecologic history before and after sterilization. The same percentage of patients claimed to have had irregular menses, menstrual pain, and treatment for irregular bleeding before and after sterilization. Patients who were unhappy that they had elected sterilization had a higher rate of poststerilization alteration (i.e., menorrhagia) than did patients who were happy with the procedure. The rate of poststerilization complications was low, and most patients experienced no increase in menstrual symptoms. (J GYNECOL SURG 5:67, 1989)