Government-funding program on reversal of tubal sterilization

Bai, B.C.; Park, C.M.; Kwak, H.M.; Whang, Y.W.

Asia-Oceania Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 18(1): 73-80

1992


ISSN/ISBN: 0389-2328
PMID: 1627062
DOI: 10.1111/j.1447-0756.1992.tb00302.x
Document Number: 322563
Physicians at 15 institutions in the Republic of Korea conducted microsurgery to reverse tubal sterilization in 361 22-38 year old women (mean 28.8 years) of parity 0-2 (mean 0.4) between 1980 and 1988. The government paid for the sterilization reversal services. The leading reason for regret and reversal of tubal sterilization was death of a child (89.8%). The researchers were able to follow up on 297 cases (18 months-8 years after reversal surgery). 69.7% (207) of the cases became pregnant after tubal sterilization. Most reversal clients (63.3%) had had laparoscopic unipolar coagulation followed by the laparoscopic banding technique (24.2%). The laparoscopic banding technique resulted in a more successful reversal rate (77.8%), however. Only 65.9% of clients who had had laparoscopic unipolar coagulation became pregnant. The most successful reversal by sterilization type was for clients who had had postpartum Pomeroy technique (90%). The most successful reversal by anastomosis site was isthmic-isthmic (80.9%) and the least successful was cornual-ampullary (64.9%). 61.8% became pregnant within 6 months after reversal and 81.6% within 1 year. The success rate was highest among the women who underwent their reversal 25-36 months after the sterilization (78.4%) and the lowest rate among those with an interval of 37-48 months (53.5%). The mean interval between reversal and conception was 7.6 months, the shortest interval being 1 month and the longest 39 months. As voluntary sterilization occurs more often at lower parity among younger women, Korea expects to continue to see more sterilization reversal requests.

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