Female sterilisation: a five-year follow-up in Auckland

During the year 1972/73 sterilisation by tubal occlusion was performed at National Women's Hospital on 831 women with a mean age of 32.5 years and a mean parity of 4.6. Two were unknowingly pregnant at the time of operation and eight became pregnant within five years mainly because or recanalization of the tube. Eighty-one percent had no regrets about being sterilised but eleven women experienced a major degree of regret. Eight patients had sought reversal of their sterilisation. Following the operation libido was decreased in 10% of Europeans and 45% of Maoris. Menorrhagia was a common complaint after sterilisation and 7.5% had a hysterectomy within five years.