Menstrual pattern following tubal sterilization

We sought to investigate the effects of tubal sterilization over menstrual parameters and determine the timing of the detected influences.

We questioned 97 voluntary patients among 301 women who had been subjected to tubal sterilization in our clinic between 1996-2006. Patients were asked via questionnaire about menstrual parameters concerning the 5 years before and after the surgery, which focused on each year separately. Statistical analyses were carried out by considering the preoperative data of patients as controls and postoperative data as the study group.

Some kind of pattern change was detected in 7.6% of all patients. Hemorrhage with chunky clots of blood incidence decreased significantly by the second postoperative year (31.9%, 21.6%; P<.05). We had a significant decrease in dysmenorrhea postoperatively in the third, fourth, and fifth years (38.1%, 21.6%, 16.4%, 13.4%; P<.05). While the premenstrual syndrome was 45.3% before surgery, it was 30.9% and 24.7% postoperatively in the fourth and fifth years (P<.05).

Hemorrhage and dysmenorrhea were most frequently seen after tubal sterilization. The statistically significant drop in the mean weekly coital frequency during postoperative period indicates a need for further studies, which might evaluate the reasons behind this reduction.