Evolution over 10 years of sterilization procedures among women and men in France (2015 - 2024)

Sterilization procedures are performed in healthcare facilities, recorded in the hospital information system, and reported by the French Agency for Hospital Information. Between 2015 and 2024, the overall number of sterilizations increased markedly, from 43,946 procedures in 2015 (tubal ligation and vasectomy) to 67,892 (+54 %). Among women, tubal ligations (TL) decreased from 40,000 to 20,000, largely due to the withdrawal of the ESSURE® device in 2017 and the impact of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. In contrast, vasectomy rates rose sharply, particularly since 2020, from 3,800 in 2015 to 43,000 in 2020, exceeding the number of tubal ligations. In 2024, the incidence was 1.5 per 1,000 women aged 15-49 and 3.5 per 1,000 men aged 20-55. Tubal ligation rates have stabilized, whereas vasectomy continues to increase, with incidence curves crossing in 2021, mirroring trends observed in developed Anglo-Saxon countries. Regional disparities exist, likely reflecting differences in healthcare access and cultural factors. Reversal procedures of the fallopian tubes or vas deferens remain rare, with no recent increase observed.