[Surgical procedures for sterilization of the women: certainty--complications (author's transl)]

The time (interval, postpartum, postabortum), location (uterus, mucus membrane of the oviducts, tubes), access (transcervical, transvaginal, trans-abdominal) and the actual method of sterilization for the women (surgical, electric, thermic, mechanical) can be differentiated and combined with each other in various ways. Today the usual procedure is sterilization by partial resection of the oviducts performed laparoscopically in the interval via electrocoagulation and surgically after delivery via periumbilical minilaparotomy. Laparoscopic sterilization via electrocoagulation has a rate of failure of about 1:1,000 and the mortality rate is less than 1:10,000. The most frequent complications are: hemorrhages due to injury of the larger vessels and burns in the intestine caused by the electric current. For this reason, conventional (:unipolar") electrocoagulation should be replaced by the so-called bipolar coagulation or other newer methods which avoid these complications. On the basis of the current literature, no definitive statements can be made regarding the reliability of the newer methods (silastic ring, plastic clips, thermocoagulation). An additional, although up until now purely hypothetic, advantage of the newer methods is the possibility of reversibility. With conventional electrocoagulation, the rate of reversilbility is very low. Additional alternatives are also culdotomy and minilaparotomy in the interval with the assistance of a uterus elevator. Both ways of access may be combined with various methods of sterilization. The pros and cons of the hysterectomy as a method of sterilization are still being discussed. Occasional late sequelae of sterilization such as menstrual disorders, pain and, particularly, problems related to sexual intercourse have only recently come to light. They have not yet been adequately investigated.