Two-year follow-up of 3,466 sterilizations in India

Because female sterilization is being used extensively as a method of limiting family size, its early complications as well as long-term sequelae should be carefully documented. This analysis of a two-year controlled prospective study of 3,466 sterilized women shows that the incidence of poststerilization gynecologic abnormalities was not significantly higher than what might be expected in the general population and declined markedly over time. Poststerilization surgery rates were also low. The incidence of weight gain among sterilized women was significantly higher than that of weight loss. Analysis of menstrual patterns showed no change in menstrual cycle parameters after sterilization for the majority of the cases. Both favorable and unfavorable changes in menstrual cycle parameters were reported. The two-year pregnancy rate was 0.4%. One ectopic pregnancy was reported.