A two-year follow-up study of women sterilized in India
Bhatt, R.V.; Pachauri, S.; Jariwala, K.; Chauhan, L.N.
Contraception 23(6): 603-619
1981
ISSN/ISBN: 0010-7824 PMID: 7285579 DOI: 10.1016/s0010-7824(81)80003-0Document Number: 562641
For large-scale program implementation, it is important to document both early and long-term safety and effectiveness of female sterilization methods. The results of this controlled, prospective, two-year study of 2,053 women who underwent sterilization in Baroda, India, show a marked decline in gynecological abnormalities over time; the incidence of gynecological pathology following sterilization was not significantly higher than what might be expected in the general population. The incidence of post-sterilization gynecological surgery was low. Significantly more women had weight gain than weight loss after sterilization. After sterilization, no change in menstrual cycle parameters was reported for the vast majority of women. Both favorable and unfavorable changes in menstrual cycle parameters were noted. The one-year and two-year pregnancy rates were 0.0 and 0.4 percent, respectively. No ectopic pregnancies were reported.