Post-tubal sterilization problems correlated with ovarian steroidogenesis

Mid-luteal phase total urinary oestrogen excretion was found to be significantly reduced in women who had previously undergone tubal sterilization at least two years before assay; pregnanediol levels at or below 2.0 mg/24 hrs were significantly more frequent for the study group. These findings indicate that reduced ovarian function is associated with that procedure. The major problems declared as having been experienced subsequent to tubal sterilization were classified into three categories; some women declared problems in more than one category: (1) Abnormal uterine bleeding and/or menorrhagia, (2) Physical problems, (3) Psychological and/or psychiatric problems. Category 1 was associated with a significant fall in total oestrogen excretion, and category 2 with a significant fall in both total oestrogen and pregnanediol excretion. Analysis of category 3 will be published elsewhere. A negative correlation between total oestrogens and cholesterol was observed.