Female and male sterilization and refertilization in Sweden

In Sweden, approximately 1,500 men and 7,000 women are sterilized yearly. The frequency varies considerably between regions. The reasons for these differences are not fully known. More women than men are sterilized in Sweden, but a higher proportion of sterilized men undergo refertilization. The object of the study was to analyze counselling routines prior to sterilization, presterilization waiting time, the number of refertilizations performed, the attitudes of the operating departments towards refertilization, and the possible relation between frequency of refertilization and incidence of sterilization. A questionnaire was mailed to all units performing refertilizations and/or sterilizations of mean and women in Sweden (n = 161). The response was 93%. Counselling routines and waiting times before sterilization varied, which influenced the operation's availability. The frequency of refertilizations varied considerably between counties from 0.5 to 5.4 per 100,000 inhabitants. There was no correlation between frequency of sterilizations and refertilizations. The rate of refertilization appears to be determined mostly by the local attitudes of the health authority. The Swedish sterilization law has had a heterogeneous impact in the country.