Effects of tubal sterilization on women’s health: 5 years
experience
A Basgul1, A Uzuner2, ZN Kavak1, N Bozkurt1, H Onaran3, MS Erturk4
1Marmara University Medical Faculty, Gynecology and Obstetrics, Istanbul, Turkey,
2Marmara University Medical Faculty, Family Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey, 3Marmara
University Medical Faculty, Student, Istanbul, Turkey, 4Marmara University
Medical Faculty,Intern, Istanbul, Turkey
Objectives Tubal sterilization is one
of the most popular family planning method in the world. Many data exist in the
literature about postoperative outcome of this method including satisfactions,
complications and complaints. In this study we aimed to investigate possible
effects of tubal sterilization on women’s health who had chosen this method.
Design and methods The data of women who had been operated for tubal
sterilization (laparoscopic and during cesarean section), during the last 5
years in our clinic were investigated retrospectively based on the hospital
records. Prospectively, with the help of a telephone questionnaire women were
asked about their satisfaction with the method; their regrets and complaints;
the effects of the tubal sterilization on their sexual life and their actual
health.
Results A total of 127 women had tubal sterilization between 2000-2005,
104 of them had bilateral tubal ligation during cesarean section, 22 of them had
laparoscopic tubal ligation and 1 of them had mini-laparotomy. The mean age of
the patients were 35.9±3.6(min27; max:45); mean value of gravidity 4.2±1.9,
parity 2.9±1.1. Forty patients could be reached by phone call. Nine (23.1%) of
the patients stated that they had been regretful after the operation; 95% were
satisfied with the operation; 76.9% of the patients would recommend this method
to another woman. Although 23.1% reported changes in their sexual life after the
sterilization, 30% changes in their menstrual cycle and 35% reported lower
abdominal pain, two third of the women did not stated any significant complaint.
Women who were 36 years and over reported more lower abdominal pain (p=0.048
Fisher’s exact test); women operated beyond 2 years have less complaint (p=0.047
Fisher’s exact test); high school and over graded women reported more changes in
their sexual life (p=0.036 Fisher’s exact test)
Conclusions Although being an
irreversible and invasive method, women who had tubal sterilization are mostly
satisfied with the method and are willing to recommend it to another woman.