Menopausal symptoms and psychological distress in women with and without tubal sterilization

Data from self-administered mailed questionnaires were used to examine the relationship between menopausal and psychological/psychiatric factors in women age 45-50 years with and without tubal sterilization. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, tubal sterilization was associated with current flushing (odds ratio = 8.78, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.58-48.67) and current symptoms of psychological distress (odds ratio = 3.37, 95% CI = 1.27-8.95); psychological distress was associated with tubal sterilization (odds ratio = 3.28, 95% CI = 1.28-8.42) and with being perimenopausal (odds ratio = 3.93, 95% CI = 1.08-14.34). Sterilization was marginally associated with a history of physician-diagnosed depression (univariate age-adjusted odds ratio = 2.24, 95% CI = 0.90-5.60). The menopausal and psychological symptoms of women with tubal sterilization should be taken seriously and treated appropriately.