A lifetable analysis of sterilization failure: data from the Profamilia Clinic, Bogota, Colombia

Sterilization failure rates were computed using lifetable methods for sterilizations occurring between 1973 and 1982 in the Profamilia family planning clinic in Bogota, Colombia. Out of a total of nearly 45,000 sterilizations occurring during this period 503 sterilization failures were detected. Comparing methods, laparoscopy with the silastic band method had a significantly higher rate of failure, 1.5% after 5 years compared to 0.9% for laparoscopy with cautery and 0.6% for minilaparotomy.