The development of new technologies for female sterilization: conclusions and recommendations for research

The conclusions and recommendations for research made during the consultation on the development of new technologies for female sterilization are presented. The participants in the consultation agreed that there was no single new method of female sterilization ready for introduction into service programs, but that there were several approaches with the potential to improve existing methods, or to provide new methods for tubal occlusion. A number of areas for future research were recommended including: additional operational research on existing abdominal approaches to tubal occlusion; further research into the physiology and pharmacology of the Fallopian tube; chemical occlusion using a transcervical approach with balloon pumps; techniques for endometrial ablation as sterilization methods; transcervical Fallopian tube cannulation; the use of quinacrine and other chemicals, such as elemental iodine, as tubal sclerosants, provided that these substances meet modern toxicological requirements.