State-of-the-art of non-hormonal methods of contraception: V. Female sterilisation

Abstract

Female sterilisation via the transcervical route is an outpatient or office procedure; it is performed under local anaesthesia or even without anaesthesia. Its complication rate is low. It should be preferred to the abdominal procedures provided the equipment and the experience required are available. Counselling should include information on vasectomy for the partner as well as on alternative long-acting reversible contraceptives. The ten-year cumulative pregnancy rate of sterilisation techniques ranges from 0.1 to 3.6 per 1000 procedures. The life-time risk of failure is around 1/200.

Determinants of Tubal Ligation in Puebla, Mexico

“…The closure of the fallopian tubes, tubal ligation (TL), is the main form of female sterilization and is close to 100% effective (Beerthuizen, 2010). TL can involve the destruction of part of the fallopian tubes through chemical scarring, cautery, cutting and removal or, alternately, blockage of the tubes using ligatures, clips or bands (Beerthuizen, 2010;Informed Consent Working Group, 2003).…”

“…Female sterilization is the most frequently used contraceptive method in the world (Beerthuizen, 2010;Population Reference Bureau, 2008). The closure of the fallopian tubes, tubal ligation (TL), is the main form of female sterilization and is close to 100% effective (Beerthuizen, 2010).…”

Update on hysteroscopic sterilisation

“…Sterilisation via obstruction of the female fallopian tube has been described in the literature since 1827 and was initially unpopular because of the unreliability of early techniques and high levels of morbidity . Electrocautery was first attempted in 1878 at the uterotubal junction and again later by Dickenson in 1916 and Cooper in 1927 .…”

“…Female sterilisation is the permanent contraceptive method of choice for around 180 million couples worldwide, and in the UK 49 000 women will undergo sterilisation each year . For many women, this has traditionally been undertaken via the modified Pomeroy method with mini laparotomy or laparoscopically, via the application of a ligating device such as a Falope ring or Filshie clip, electrocoagulation or surgical division.…”

Non-hormonal methods of contraception

“…A series of review articles appearing in this issue of the European Journal of Contraception and Reproductive Health Care under the common title 'State-of-the-art of nonhormonal methods of contraception' summarises the history, clinical experience and research on mechanical barrier methods 3 , spermicides 4 , intrauterine contraception (excluding hormone-releasing systems) 5 , natural family planning 6 and female and male sterilisation [7][8] .…”