STERILIZATION: SENSIBLE CHOICE OR SERIOUS TROUBLE? (OPERATION FOR WOMEN)
The operations for women are more serious than vasectomy, and occasionally there are complications. Although they are immediately effective, the failure rate is higher than that with vasectomy. Vessey, Lawless and Yeates (1982) gave the low figure of 0.13 per HWYs, but the results of other series have been slightly higher.
A review of the literature on sterilization is interesting on four counts.
1. It is noticeable that the total number of papers on this subject is small compared with the numbers relating to other methods of contraception. This is a surprising finding considering what
a profound difference these procedures make to the lives of so many citizens.
2. Nearly all the papers on sterilization discuss possible risks of physical sequelae, looking, for example, for disease of the genital organs following vasectomy.
3. There are few studies on changes in sexual behaviour after sterilization, and very few on emotional sequelae.
4. Advice on counselling before either female sterilization or vasectomy is minimal, although there is a general consensus that it should be undertaken.
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