Sterilization of women in Denmark in 1990
Andreasen, K.R.; Blaakaer, J.; Bock, J.E.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 155(37): 2876-2878
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 8259611 Document Number: 419045
An investigation of female sterilization techniques in Denmark was undertaken in 1992 and compared to an equivalent investigation done in 1985. A questionnaire was sent to all hospitals in Denmark, Greenland and the Faeroe Islands. 74 questionnaires out of 76 were answered. Two surgical departments did not answer the questionnaire. In 1990, no sterilizations were performed at 1 gynecological special department, 4 surgical departments and 3 mixed medical-surgical departments. One surgical department was converted into a medical department. Sterilizations were performed in 65 departments in 1990. Among the departments that returned the questionnaire and and that had carried out female sterilizations in 1990, 29 departments were specialized gynecological departments, 31 were nonsubspecialized surgical departments, and 5 were medical-surgical departments. Laparoscopic sterilization was used in every specialized gynecological department; the percentage of surgical departments using this method had increased from 41.3 in 1985 to 87.0 in 1990. In 1990, bipolar electrocoagulation and clip technique were the most frequently employed laparoscopic methods. In 1985 it was bipolar electrocoagulation. Five departments are still using unipolar electrocoagulation: 2 surgical departments and 3 gynecological wards. The average duration of use of uni- and bipolar electrocoagulation as well as the ring technique was 8 years, end-to-end coagulation and the clips technique averaged duration of use of 4-6 years. In east Denmark there were 23 departments (with 1914 operations), in west Denmark 39 (2934 operations), and in Greenland and the Faeroes 3 (84 operations) that carried out sterilizations totalling 65 departments (4932 operations). Refertilization operations were performed at 11 (57 operations) departments in east Denmark, 24 (127 operations) in west Denmark, and 2 (6 operations) in Greenland and the Faeroes, totaling 37 departments (190 operations). Hysteroscopy was carried out in 4 departments (61 operations) in east Denmark, and 13 (387 operations) in west Denmark, totaling 17 departments (448 operations).