Sterilization needs in the 1990s: The case for quinacrine nonsurgical female sterilization
Mumford, S.D.; Kessel, E.
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology 167(5): 1203-1207
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9378 PMID: 1442967 DOI: 10.1016/s0002-9378(11)91689-5Document Number: 257382
Around 23% of all married women of childbearing years in all developing countries combined have undergone sterilization. Male and female sterilization protects almost 50% of all contraceptive users from pregnancy. In India, sterilization provides protection for 70% of all contraceptive users and 31% of all married women of childbearing years. These figures in China are 49% and 37%, respectively. Together these 2 countries have 82% of all sterilization acceptors in developing countries. Across cultures acceptance of sterilization is high. Projected demand for sterilization during the 1990s ranges from 151,000,000 to 164,000,000. Using the middle projected number of 159,000,000, 2 scientists estimate that 47,849,000 new sterilizations would be needed just to keep the same prevalence of 23.5% and 49,332,000 to raise the prevalence to 28.8%. Family planning professionals should work to increase sterilization prevalence to at least the levels of the Republic of Korea (47.6%) and of Puerto Rico (46.8%). To increase prevalence to 47% of married women of childbearing age in developing countries during the 1990s, the number of sterilizations needed should actually be 437,938,000. Sterilization prevalence rates for 35-39 year old women in some developing countries have already exceeded 47% including the Republic of Korea (74%), Panama (62%), and China (60%). Surgical sterilization cannot realistically meet these needs. The quinacrine pellet method of nonsurgical female sterilization may be a viable option. It consists of 2 intrauterine administrations of 252 mg quinacrine a month apart during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. This causes occlusion of the fallopian tubes. By the end of 1992, there may have been as many as 175,000 completed quinacrine nonsurgical sterilizations. Prostaglandins serve as adjuvants to this method. The success rate is 98-99%. It has caused no deaths and no serious complications. The cost of this method is US$.25.