Effectiveness of phenol-atabrine-paste (PAP) instillation for female sterilization

Two groups of sterilized women, 3307 by phenol-atabrine-paste (PAP) instillation and 1026 by mini-lap technique, were follow-up interviewed to determine their relative effectiveness. PAP, if successfully performed, was as effective as the mini-lap. The life table pregnancy rates among successful PAP women were 0.21 and 0.28 at 12 and 24 months, respectively. The rates among the unsuccessful PAP women, however, were high: 15.1 and 30.5 at 12 and 24 months, respectively. In spite of its distinctive advantage of being non-surgical, wider promotion of PAP sterilization procedure deserves caution.