Around 16% of all married women of reproductive age (MWRA) in the world have voluntarily undergone female sterilization which equals about 1'38 million women (123 million in developing countries).  Moreover, it has increased 45% since 1984.  Researchers estimate that the number of women wishing to be sterilized in developing countries will increase an additional 67 million by 2000.  Thus female sterilization is the leading family planning (FP) method in the world.  Indeed it leads the list of FP methods used in at least

About 95 million couples are currently protected from unwanted pregnancy by voluntary female sterilization, making this the most widely used contraceptive method in the world. The rapid spread of voluntary female sterilization over the past decade has been facilitated by the surgical methods of minilaparotomy and laparoscopy. Both methods are quick, highly effective, and safe. Either procedure can be performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. Minilaparotomy is the most appropriate method for use after childbirth. Laparoscopy is best suited to lar

The chance of reversing female sterilization has recently improved due to the use of microsurgical reversal techniques and the development of new sterilization procedures which reduce tubal destruction; however, reversal odds are still low and women should be advised that sterilization is a permanent form of contraception. In 18 recent studies, covering 560 cases of sterilization reversals performed with magnification and atraumatic techniques, 56% of the patients subsequently gave birth to live infants. In 3 series, covering 88 cases of sterilization performed with atraumat

Methods available for female tubal sterilization are reviewed. The development of endoscopic equipment and special cannulae has permitted a variety of approaches to female sterilization. Laparotomy, which requires a large abdominal incision, has been replaced by minilaparotomy (small abdominal incision), laparoscopy (abdominal puncture), colpotomy and culdoscopy (vaginal approach), or hysteroscopy (transcervical approach). Procedures reviewed involving tubal ligation include simple ligation, the Madlener technique, the Irving technique, the Wood technique, salpinge

The culdoscopic method of female sterilizatinn is discussed. The method employs the vaginal approach, and has several advantages over other methods;  it leaves no external scar, may be performed with only local anesthesia and analgesia on an outpatient basis, does not require highly sophisticated equipment, can be performed in 10 minutes or less, and is associated with few surgical  complications and low postoperative morbidity. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative procedures are described.

 The minilaparotomy technique for female sterilization is discussed.  Preoperative, operative, and postoperative procedures, and the use of anesthesia, are reviewed. Minilaparotomy can be used with any method of tubal occlusion, but the Pomeroy or modified Pomeroy ligation technique, the Madlener technique,  excision of the ampullary portion of the tube, or electrocautery are the methods usually used.

This Population Report summarizes a two-day workshop on female sterilization performed by laparoscopic application of the Hulka-Clemens spring clip to the fallopian tubes. Organized by the International Fertility Research Program of the University of North Carolina, the workshop, which was held on December 14-15, 1973 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, reviewed current investigations and recommended improvements in equipment.

 Colpotomy, a technique of female sterilization which dates back to the early 19th century, has recently begun to attract new interest. By definition an incision in the vagina rather than the abdomen, colpotomy has proven particularly effective for large-scale female tubectomy camps in India.

This report discusses the current practice of laparoscopic sterilization - new techniques and new technology. Most of the information contained herein is based upon a review of the professional literature over the past five years, supplemented by personal interviews and correspondence.

This bibliography with abstracts represents a preliminary compilation of periodical articles, papers, book chapters, abstracts, and personal communications reporting on male and female sterilization - surgical procedures, legal issues, and new developments - during 1970, 1971, and 1972. Animal studies have not been included except where tests or experimental methods may have a direct relevance for human use. An expanded data base, fully indexed, will be available for computerized retrieval later in the year.

This short monograph was prepared in an effort to assist the Second International Conference on Voluntary Sterilization, February 25 - March 1, 1973, in Geneva. In view of the uncertain state of the world's laws on voluntary contraceptive sterilization, it is hoped that this monograph, by pointing out the facts of the situation as it exists, may lead to some improvement. The Conference provides an excellent opportunity to draw attention to the facts.