Psychosexual adjustment following sterilization: A prospective study on Chinese women
Tang, C.S.; Chung, T.K.
Journal of Psychosomatic Research 42(2): 187-196
1997
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-3999 PMID: 9076646 DOI: 10.1016/s0022-3999(96)00238-3Document Number: 267730
To identify predictors of Chinese women's psychosexual adjustment after sterilization, 115 multiparous women (mean age, 33.7 years) from Hong Kong were interviewed 1 week before and 1-3 days after elective or postpartum sterilization; 87 of these women were available for interview 12 months after the procedure. 70% were housewives and 25% were employed full-time; 59% had at least a high school education. The primary reasons for sterilization were husband's demand and the financial burdens inherent in raising more children. 35.5% of sterilization acceptors were considered to have preoperative psychological distress; such distress was significantly associated with low levels of family cohesion and adaptability and the expectation the procedure would be dangerous and painful. The rate of psychological distress dropped to 28.9% immediately after sterilization. Significant predictors of postoperative distress were high preoperative distress, the fear of negative evaluation, feminine gender role stress, low family cohesion and adaptability, and high postoperative ratings on pain, danger, dissatisfaction, and regret. At the 12-month follow-up, the psychological distress rate was 10.3%--comparable to that in the general population. At follow-up, 63.5% reported sexual satisfaction. Although women in the postpartum sterilization group were more likely to report pain at the 12-month follow-up than those in the elective group (25.8% vs. 7.1%), about 80% of women in both groups were satisfied with the procedure and only three (3.4%)--all in the elective group--expressed regret about their decision. These findings suggest that female sterilization is not associated with adverse psychological sequelae; it is recommended, however, that another follow-up be conducted 5 years after sterilization.