Risk of Sterilization Regret and Age: An Analysis of the National Survey of Family Growth, 2015-2019.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the risk of sterilization regret based on age at the time of sterilization in a contemporary group of women. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2015-2017 and 2017-2019 National Survey of Family Growth, Female Respondent Files, to estimate the proportion of women who experience sterilization regret. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the population and the proportion with regret. Sterilization regret was defined as someone who either underwent sterilization reversal or who definitely wanted sterilization reversal. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess associations with sterilization regret. RESULTS: A total of 1,549 women who underwent sterilization were included in the analysis; 8% were aged 21-30 years, and 92% were aged older than 30 years. Of the participants, 16.9% identified as Black, 22.0% as Hispanic, and 57.2% as White. Most (58.4%) underwent a tubal sterilization procedure between age 21 and 30 years. The cumulative proportion of regret was 10.2% (12.6% for women who underwent sterilization at age 21-30 years and 6.7% for those who underwent sterilization at older than age 30 years). After controlling for covariates including age, race, parity, educational attainment, and medical reason for sterilization, the only variable that had a statistically significant association with regret was age at the time of the interview (P<.001). As women got older, they were less likely to report sterilization regret. CONCLUSION: Younger women experience more sterilization regret. As women get older, sterilization regret decreases. Counseling about sterilization should reveal the unpredictability of future desire, but age alone must not be a barrier to performing sterilization.

Laparoscopic Tubal Re-anastomosis or In Vitro Fertilisation in Previously Ligated Patients: A Comparison of Fertility Outcomes and Survey of Patient Attitudes

INTRODUCTION: We aim to compare live birth rates, cost analysis and a survey of patient attitudes between laparosopic tubal re-anastomosis and in vitro fertilisation (IVF). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was done in a single reproductive medicine and IVF unit in Singapore from January 2011 to December 2016. Previously ligated patients underwent either laparoscopic tubal re-anastomosis or IVF. The primary outcome was first live birth after treatment. Interval to first pregnancy, miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies were also reported. Patients attending the subfertility clinic completed a questionnaire on IVF and tubal re-anastomosis on preferred choice of treatment, before and after reading an information sheet. RESULTS: Twelve patients underwent tubal re-anastomosis while 31 patients underwent IVF treatment. Pregnancy (75.0% vs 35.5%) and live birth (58.3% vs 25.8%) were significantly higher in the tubal surgery group (P <0.05%) after transferring all available embryos in one stimulated IVF cycle. Cost per live birth was lower in the tubal surgery group (SGD27,109 vs SGD52,438). One hundred patients participated in the survey. A majority of patients preferred tubal surgery to IVF (68.2% vs 31.8%) before given information on the procedures, but indicated a preference for IVF (54.6%) to surgery (45.4%) after receiving information on the procedures. CONCLUSIONS: For women less than 40 years of age, desiring fertility after tubal ligation, laparoscopic tubal re-anastomosis offers better live birth rates and cost-effectiveness. Patients in Singapore are equivocal as to their preference after education regarding the choices. Thus, laparoscopic tubal re-anastomosis remains a viable alternative to IVF treatment.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Desire for Reversal of Sterilization Among U.S. Women.

Purpose: Racial and ethnic disparities in rates of female sterilization, a prominent method of contraception, have been consistently observed for decades. Such disparities are also evident in subsequent desire for reversal of the procedure. Additional work is needed to better understand these patterns, particularly given the historical context of coercive sterilization patterns in minority and low-income women. Materials and Methods: Two cycles of the National Survey of Family Growth data are pooled (2011-2013 and 2006-2010) and used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for race and ethnicity, controlling for payment method, age at sterilization, number of long-term partners, and other known covariates. Results: After adjusting for other factors, the odds of desire for reversal were 70% higher (OR 1.70, confidence interval [95% CI] 1.26-2.29) in non-Hispanic (NH) Black and 54% (OR 1.54, 95% CI 1.14-2.08) in Hispanic women compared to their NH White counterparts. In addition, the likelihood of desire for reversal was substantially increased with lower age at sterilization, a higher number of partners, and lower education. Conclusions: Robust findings of desire for reversal among racial and ethnic minorities, taken together with increased desire for reversal on the basis of specific personal characteristics, merit attention to the possibility that disproportionate outcomes reflect a lack of access to desired contraception and an inability to achieve desired fertility goals in marginalized populations.

Declining rates of sterilisation reversal procedures in western Australian women from 1990 to 2008: the relationship with age, hospital type and government policy changes.

BACKGROUND: Female sterilisation is usually performed on an elective basis at perceived family completion, however, around 1-3% of women who have undergone sterilisation elect to undergo sterilisation reversal (SR) at a later stage. The trends in SR rates in Western Australia (WA), proportions of SR procedures between hospital types (public and private), and the effects of Federal Government policies on these trends are unknown. METHODS: Using records from statutory state-wide data collections of hospital separations and births, we conducted a retrospective descriptive study of all women aged 15-49 years who underwent a SR procedure during the period 1st January 1990 to 31st December 2008 (n = 1868 procedures). RESULTS: From 1991 to 2007 the annual incidence rate of SR procedures per 10,000 women declined from 47.0 to 3.6. Logistic regression modelling showed that from 1997 to 2001 the odds of women undergoing SR in a private hospital as opposed to all other hospitals were 1.39 times higher (95% CI 1.07-1.81) and 7.51 times higher (95% CI 5.46-10.31) from 2002 to 2008. There were significant decreases in SR rates overall and among different age groups after the Federal Government interventions. CONCLUSION: Rates of SR procedures in WA have declined from 1990 to 2008, particularly following policy changes such as the introduction of private health insurance (PHI) policies. This suggests decisions to undergo SR may be influenced by Federal Government interventions.

Does a history of unintended pregnancy lessen the likelihood of desire for sterilization reversal?

BACKGROUND: Unintended pregnancy has been significantly associated with subsequent female sterilization. Whether women who are sterilized after experiencing an unintended pregnancy are less likely to express desire for sterilization reversal is unknown. METHODS: This study used national, cross-sectional data collected by the 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth. The study sample included women ages 15-44 who were surgically sterile from a tubal sterilization at the time of interview. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between a history of unintended pregnancy and desire for sterilization reversal while controlling for potential confounders. RESULTS: In this nationally representative sample of 1,418 women who were sterile from a tubal sterilization, 78% had a history of at least one unintended pregnancy and 28% expressed a desire to have their sterilization reversed. In unadjusted analysis, having a prior unintended pregnancy was associated with higher odds of expressing desire for sterilization reversal (odds ratio [OR]: 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-2.79). In adjusted analysis controlling for sociodemographic factors, unintended pregnancy was no longer significantly associated with desire for reversal (OR: 1.46; 95% CI: 0.91-2.34). CONCLUSION: Among women who had undergone tubal sterilization, a prior history of unintended pregnancy did not decrease desire for sterilization reversal.

Expectativas e sentimentos de mulheres que esperam por tratamento de reprodução humana / Expectations and feelings of women awaiting human reproduction treatment

Trata-se de pesquisa qualitativa com o objetivo de verificar as opiniões, as emoções e os sentimentos de mulheres laqueadas acerca da expectativa pelo tratamento de reprodução humana assistida num ambulatório especializado. As entrevistas foram realizadas em um hospital da rede pública de saúde, na Região Sudeste do Brasil, São Paulo, com 16 mulheres esterilizadas. Como resultados, as seguintes temáticas foram as mais frequentes: ansiedade, assombro do tempo e "des-atenção" dos profissionais de saúde, que foram vivenciados nos momentos em que os sentimentos de solidão e abandono se mostraram mais agudos sob a perspectiva das mulheres. Do estudo emerge a necessidade de se pensar estratégias de atenção e cuidado junto a essa população específica no campo da saúde, visando melhorar seu conforto emocional por meio de um diálogo franco entre mulheres e profissionais de saúde.

This paper aimed to investigate the opinions, emotions and feelings of sterilized women awaiting assisted human reproduction treatment in a specialized sector of a public hospital. Sixteen sterilized women were interviewed in the health care department of a public hospital in São Paulo, southeastern Brazil, as to their experiences while they had been awaiting treatment. The feelings referred to were: anxiety, the fear of taking up the time of the health personnel, and fear of their dis-attention, experienced during the moments when the women's feelings of loneliness and abandonment became most acute. It is evident from this study that there is a need to create strategies to guarantee that this specific population in the health field receive adequate attention and care, with a view to ensuring their emotional comfort, through a straightforward dialogue among women and healthcare professionals.

Tubal ligation regret and related risk factors: findings from a case-control study in Pernambuco State, Brazil.

A case-control study was carried out at a public teaching hospital in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil in 1997 to investigate risk factors among women who feel regret after undergoing sterilization through tubal ligation. The study compared sterilized women who had requested or undergone a tubal reversal with women who were also sterilized but had not undergone this surgery, nor had requested to do so. Women showing a significantly greater probability of regret were those sterilized at a young age, those who had not themselves made the decision to undergo surgery , those for whom the sterilization was carried out up to the 45th day after childbirth and those who had acquired knowledge about contraceptive methods after the tubal ligation procedure. Having had a deceased child, a partner with no children prior to the current union or a change of partner after the tubal sterilization procedure were also associated to the request for or submission to tubal sterilization reversal. It is necessary to assess women's psycho-socio-demographic profiles, their reasons for requesting tubal ligation and to advise the patient about family planning in order to reduce rates of post-sterilization regret.

Tubal ligation regret and related risk factors: findings from a case-control study in Pernambuco State, Brazil / Fatores de risco para o arrependimento da laqueadura tubária: resultados de um estudo de caso-controle em Pernambuco, Brasil

A case-control study was carried out at a public teaching hospital in Recife, Pernambuco State, Brazil in 1997 to investigate risk factors among women who feel regret after undergoing sterilization through tubal ligation. The study compared sterilized women who had requested or undergone a tubal reversal with women who were also sterilized but had not undergone this surgery, nor had requested to do so. Women showing a significantly greater probability of regret were those sterilized at a young age, those who had not themselves made the decision to undergo surgery , those for whom the sterilization was carried out up to the 45th day after childbirth and those who had acquired knowledge about contraceptive methods after the tubal ligation procedure. Having had a deceased child, a partner with no children prior to the current union or a change of partner after the tubal sterilization procedure were also associated to the request for or submission to tubal sterilization reversal. It is necessary to assess women's psycho-socio-demographic profiles, their reasons for requesting tubal ligation and to advise the patient about family planning in order to reduce rates of post-sterilization regret.

Um estudo do tipo caso controle foi conduzido em um hospital público de ensino no Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil, em 1997, para investigar os fatores de risco para o arrependimento da realização da laqueadura tubária, comparando mulheres laqueadas que solicitaram ou realizaram a reversão da laqueadura tubária com mulheres também laqueadas que não solicitaram e não se submeteram a esta cirurgia. As mulheres que mostraram uma maior probabilidade de arrependimento foram as esterilizadas quando jovens, as que não foram responsáveis pela decisão da cirurgia, as que realizaram a esterilização até o 45º dia pós-parto e as que adquiriram informações sobre métodos contraceptivos depois da laqueadura tubária. Morte de filhos, parceiros sem filhos anteriores à união atual e a mudança de parceiro após a laqueadura tubária também estiveram associados com a solicitação ou realização de reversão da laqueadura. Deve-se avaliar o perfil psicológico e sócio-demográfico das mulheres e seus motivos para solicitar a laqueadura tubária e aconselhá-las para o planejamento familiar a fim de reduzir os riscos de arrependimento futuro.

Race, insurance status, and desire for tubal sterilization reversal.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the independent effects of race/ethnicity and insurance status on desire for tubal sterilization reversal. DESIGN: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional data collected by the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). SETTING: Interviews were conducted in person by a trained female interviewer in the participant's home. PATIENT(S): The NSFG is designed to represent women and men 15-44 years of age in the U.S. household population. The sample consisted of 934 women who had undergone tubal sterilization at any time before being interviewed. INTERVENTION(S): None. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): Desire for sterilization reversal. RESULT(S): Among women older than 30 years at time of surgery, black women were significantly more likely to desire sterilization reversal compared with white women (adjusted odds ratio, 2.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.2, 5.8). In the total cohort and in the subset of women 30 years or younger, there were no significant racial/ethnic variations in desire for sterilization reversal. CONCLUSION(S): Among women over age 30 at the time of tubal sterilization, black women were much more likely to express desire for reversal than white women.

[Intrapartum and interval tubal sterilization]. / Laqueadura intraparto e de intervalo.

BACKGROUND: Brazil is a country with a high prevalence of tubal ligation, which is frequently performed at the time of delivery. In recent years, an increase in tubal reversal has been noticed, primarily among young women. OBJECTIVES: To study characteristics correlated with the procedure, determine frequency of intrapartum tubal ligation, measure patient satisfaction rates and tubal sterilization regret, in a sample of post-tubal patients. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty-five women underwent tubal ligation. The variables studied were related to the procedure: age at tubal ligation, whether ligation was performed intrapartum (vaginal or cesarean section) or after an interval (other than the intrapartum and puerperal period), health service performing the sterilization, medical expenses paid for the procedure, reason stated for choosing the method and causes related to satisfaction/regret: desire to become pregnant after sterilization, search for treatment and performance of tubal ligation reversal. The women were divided into two groups, a group undergoing ligation in the intrapartum period and a second group ligated after an interval, to evaluate the association between variables by using Fisher's exact test and chi-squared calculation with Yates' correction. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the institution. RESULTS: There was a predominance of Caucasian women over 35 years of age, married, and with a low level of education of which 43.5% had undergone sterilization before 30 years of age. Two hundred and forty-five women underwent intrapartum tubal ligation, 91.2% of them had cesarean delivery and 44.6% vaginal delivery. In both groups undergoing intrapartum tubal ligation and ligation after an interval, 82.0% and 80.8% reported satisfaction with the method. Although 14.6% expressed a desire to become pregnant at some time after sterilization, consultation regarding sterility occurred in 3.4% and 2.3%, respectively, and one woman underwent tubal reversal. The most frequent reasons for choosing the method were satisfaction with the number of offspring (35.5% and 46.7%) and medical indication (41.6% and 32.2%), respectively. CONCLUSION: The incidence of intrapartum tubal ligation was higher when the last delivery had been a cesarean section. No difference was detected among the groups regarding rates of satisfaction and regret after performance of the sterilization procedure.

The effect of tubal ligation scoring and sterilization counseling on the request for tubal reanastomosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study is to emphasize the role of counseling methods that are meant to decrease the request for tubal ligation reversal, such as tubal ligation scoring. METHOD: This study covers 389 patients who were admitted for tubal sterilization to Cukurova University, Faculty of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, between 1 January 1990 and 31 December 1999. We have used the 'Tubal ligation score' on these 389 patients. Four hundred and seventeen patients who underwent bilateral Pomeroy type tubal ligation during cesarean section without having undergone tubal ligation scoring in the same time interval, were accepted as the control group. RESULTS: Laparoscopic tubal ligation (with a Yoon ring) was performed on 368 patients who had a score of 6 or higher. Twenty-one patients who got a score of 6 or lower were recounseled and another family planning method was prescribed to them. None of the 368 patients to whom tubal ligation scoring was done previous to laparoscopic tubal ligation returned to our clinic for tubal reanastomosis. Fifteen of the 417 patients (3.6%) in the control group returned to our clinic for tubal reanastomosis. CONCLUSION: Tubal ligation scoring may decrease the ratio of patients who request a tubal ligation reversal.

Laqueadura intraparto e de intervalo / Intrapartum and interval tubal sterilization: characteristics correlated with the procedure and regret in a sample of women from a public hospital

O Brasil é um dos países com alta prevalência de laqueadura tubária, sendo freqüente sua realização durante o parto. Nos últimos anos, tem-se notado aumento da busca por reversão, principalmente entre mulheres jovens. OBJETIVOS: Estudar, em amostra de mulheres laqueadas, as características relacionadas ao procedimento, determinar a freqüência de execução intraparto, medir as taxas de satisfação e arrependimento com o método. MÉTODOS: Foram entrevistadas 335 mulheres laqueadas. As variáveis estudadas foram as relacionadas ao procedimento: idade na laqueadura, se intraparto (vaginal ou cesárea) ou de intervalo (fora do período de parto e puerpério), serviço no qual foi realizada, pagamento pelo procedimento, motivo declarado para a opção pelo método, e as relacionadas à satisfação/arrependimento: desejo de gravidez após esterilização, procura por tratamento e realização da cirurgia de reversão. As mulheres foram divididas em dois grupos, laqueadas intraparto e intervalo, avaliando-se associação das variáveis pelo teste Exato de Fisher e Qui-quadrado com correção de Yates. O estudo obteve aprovação do Comitê de Ética. RESULTADOS: Predominaram mulheres brancas, com mais de 35 anos, unidas, com baixa escolaridade e 43,5 por cento esterilizadas antes dos 30 anos. Haviam realizado laqueadura intraparto 245 mulheres, 91,2 por cento daquelas com parto cesárea e 44,6 por cento com parto vaginal. Nos dois grupos, laqueadas intraparto e de intervalo, estavam satisfeitas com o método 82 por cento e 80,8 por cento das mulheres respectivamente. Apesar de 14,6 por cento terem referido desejo de engravidar alguma vez após esterilização, consultaram por esterilidade 3,4 por cento e 2,3 por cento, respectivamente, e uma mulher submeteu-se à cirurgia de reversão. Os motivos mais freqüentes para a escolha do método foram a satisfação com a prole (35,5 por cento e 46,7 por cento) e a indicação médica (41,6 por cento e 32,2 por cento), respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A laqueadura intraparto...

BACKGROUND: Brazil is a country with a high prevalence of tubal ligation, which is frequently performed at the time of delivery. In recent years, an increase in tubal reversal has been noticed, primarily among young women. OBJECTIVES: To study characteristics correlated with the procedure, determine frequency of intrapartum tubal ligation, measure patient satisfaction rates and tubal sterilization regret, in a sample of post-tubal patients. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty-five women underwent tubal ligation. The variables studied were related to the procedure: age at tubal ligation, whether ligation was performed intrapartum (vaginal or cesarean section) or after an interval (other than the intrapartum and puerperal period), health service performing the sterilization, medical expenses paid for the procedure, reason stated for choosing the method and causes related to satisfaction/regret: desire to become pregnant after sterilization, search for treatment and performance of tubal ligation reversal. The women were divided into two groups, a group undergoing ligation in the intrapartum period and a second group ligated after an interval, to evaluate the association between variables by using Fisher's exact test and chi-squared calculation with Yates' correction. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the institution. RESULTS: There was a predominance of Caucasian women over 35 years of age, married, and with a low level of education of which 43.5 percent had undergone sterilization before 30 years of age. Two hundred and forty-five women underwent intrapartum tubal ligation, 91.2 percent of them had cesarean delivery and 44.6 percent vaginal delivery. In both groups undergoing intrapartum tubal ligation and ligation after an interval, 82.0 percent and 80.8 percent reported satisfaction with the method. Although 14.6 percent expressed a desire to become pregnant at some time after sterilization, consultation regarding sterility occurred in 3.4 percent...

Preliminary counseling with age-related fertility rates does not influence whether women undergo reversal of sterilization.

Our objective was to assess the influence of preliminary counseling that provided information about age-related fertility rates on the decision of women to undergo reversal of sterilization. There was no apparent influence; this raises the question as to whether couples seeking fertility therapy base their decision making on factual information provided by the clinician.

Identifying women who will request sterilization reversal in a military population.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to identify the characteristics of women in a military population who are likely to seek a tubal anastomosis after a previous bilateral tubal ligation (BTL). METHOD: A written investigational review board-approved questionnaire was administered to 56 women, ages 18-40 years, requesting evaluation for a reversal of a prior BTL and 52 women of the same age range not seeking reversal. The questionnaire identified demographics and relationship characteristics of volunteers at the time of their decision to have a BTL and at the present time. RESULTS: Age 25 years or younger, sterilization due to pressure from a partner, poor marital relationship at the time of the BTL and a new marriage are highly predictive of tubal sterilization regret and a request for sterilization reversal in a military population. In addition, women requesting a tubal anastomosis reported less preoperative counseling on the permanence of a BTL and of the male alternative for permanent female sterilization, vasectomy. CONCLUSION: Women with these characteristics should have extensive counseling before undergoing tubal sterilization.

Regret following female sterilization at a young age: a systematic review.

Women who undergo sterilization may later regret this decision. This systematic review examines whether age at sterilization is associated with poststerilization regret. Using MEDLINE and EMBASE, we identified 19 articles that examined associations between women's age at sterilization and later regret, requests for sterilization reversal and undergoing sterilization reversal or requesting in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures. Study results showed that the younger women were at the time of sterilization, the more likely they were to report regretting that decision. Women undergoing sterilization at the age 30 years or younger were about twice as likely as those over 30 to express regret. They were also from 3.5 to 18 times as likely to request information about reversing the procedure and about 8 times as likely to actually undergo reversal or an evaluation for IVF. Results of studies that examined risk by continuous age showed a consistent inverse relationship between women's age at sterilization and their likelihood of regretting having had the procedure.

Changes in family structure and regret following tubal sterilization

A laqueadura tubária foi um dos métodos contraceptivos cuja adoção mais cresceu no Brasil, porém, um número cada vez maior de mulheres tem-se mostrado arrependida da cirurgia. Um estudo do tipo caso controle foi conduzido no Centro Integrado de Saúde Amaury de Medeiros (CISAM), Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil, em 1997 para investigar a associação das mudanças na estrutura familiar com a solicitação ou realização da cirurgia de reversão de laqueadura tubária, comparando 304 mulheres laqueadas que solicitaram/realizaram a reversão de laqueadura tubária, com 304 mulheres também laqueadas que não solicitaram, não se submeteram e nem desejavam esta cirurgia. Estimaram-se os odds ratio simples e ajustados, utilizando-se regressão logística. Os resultados do presente estudo mostraram que morte de filhos, parceiros sem filhos anteriores à união atual e a mudança de parceiro após a laqueadura tubária estiveram associados com a solicitação ou realização de reversão da laqueadura tubária. Sugere-se maior critério na indicação da laqueadura tubária, devendo-se conhecer os motivos e o perfil da mulher que está solicitando esta cirurgia e identificar os riscos de arrependimento futuro.

Changes in family structure and regret following tubal sterilization.

Tubal sterilization is one of the contraceptive methods whose use has increased the most in Brazil, but a growing number of women have expressed regret after the procedure. A case-control study was conducted at the Centro Integrado de Saúde Amaury de Medeiros (CISAM), Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, in 1997 to investigate the association between changes in family structure and request for or submittal to surgical reversal of tubal sterilization, comparing 304 sterilized women who had requested or submitted to reversal of tubal sterilization and 304 women who were also sterilized but had not requested, had not submitted to, and who did not wish to submit to reversal. The simple and adjusted odds ratios were estimated using logistic regression. The results of the current study showed that death of children, partners without children prior to the current union, and partner change after tubal sterilization were associated with the request for or submittal to reversal of tubal sterilization. More strict criteria are suggested in the indication of tubal sterilization, including an in-depth profile of the woman requesting tubal sterilization and identification of risk factors for future regret.

Female sterilisation: is it what women really want?

OBJECTIVE: To audit the effectiveness of a female sterilisation counselling clinic. DESIGN: A prospective, observational study of a female sterilisation counselling clinic over a 6-month period to determine the proportions of attenders keeping their appointment, proceeding to sterilisation, and attending for surgery. SETTING: A hospital-based, city centre family planning clinic run by permanent, family planning-trained staff. RESULTS: A total of 226 women had appointments for female sterilisation counselling and most confirmed attendance. Only 153 (68%) women attended; of those 101 (66%) chose to be sterilised, the remainder choosing reversible contraception. Ninety-three (92%) women went ahead with the sterilisation procedure. Thus only 61% of the original attenders were sterilised; this was only 41% of those referred. CONCLUSIONS: The study suggests that many women referred for sterilisation counselling fail to attend. This finding needs to be further explored. For those women who do attend, accurate information and informed counselling is important. Many women are still unaware of highly effective long-term reversible contraception, and following discussion decide against female sterilisation. Services offering counselling for female sterilisation should also be able to provide easy access to a full range of contraceptive methods.