Complications and short-term consequences of tubal sterilization. A personal three- and twelve-month follow-up investigation.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the short-term complications and consequences of 216 consecutive female sterilizations. Information was obtained from 211 women (98%) within the first postoperative year. There was one failure (Pomeroy), three skin burns, a vesical lesion and problems with the induction of anesthesia in 2 cases. Thirty-nine women were bothered by minor complaints for 3 months or more, in most cases by discomfort of the laparotomy scar. The impact on postoperative marital life was mainly positive. Twenty-three women expressed doubts whether the sterilization had been sensible, 10 expressed real regret at at least one interview. At one year, 4 stated serious regret. One year after surgery, 68% had told friends about the sterilization; these women were younger than the remainder. Forty-six percent said they would have preferred an earlier operation.