Laparoscopic Salpingectomy Cancellations: Patient-Reported Reasons and Areas for Improvement

Background and objective Although permanent surgical contraception via laparoscopic salpingectomy is commonly performed and associated with a substantial cancellation rate, the reasons for cancellation are poorly characterized. This study sought to examine patient-reported reasons for sterilization cancellation. Materials and methods Patients aged 18 to 50 who cancelled their laparoscopic salpingectomy at our academic county hospital and who were English- or Spanish-speaking were contacted for a qualitative interview. Inductive coding was used. Results Fifteen phone interviews were conducted between January 2023 and February 2024. Nine of the 15 participants (60%) were confident in their desire for permanent contraception, and eight of 15 (53.3%) continued to desire laparoscopic salpingectomy. The most common factor contributing to surgery cancellation among participants who desired permanent contraception was financial concerns, with insurance issues cited most frequently. Conclusions Some patients change their minds about undergoing salpingectomy. Financial concerns remain a barrier to receiving laparoscopic salpingectomy for permanent contraception, even with full insurance coverage or deeply discounted services.