Requesting information about and obtaining reversal after tubal sterilization: findings from the U.S. collaborative review of sterilization

Schmidt, Johannes E; Hillis, Susan D; Marchbanks, Polly A; Jeng, Gary; Peterson, Herbert B; for the U.S. Collaborative Review of Sterilization Working Group,

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Volume 74, Issue 5 , Pages 892-898, November 2000

Requesting information about and obtaining reversal after tubal sterilization: findings from the U.S. collaborative review of sterilization☆

Presented at the 48th Annual EIS Conference, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia, April 19–23, 1999 and at the XV Meeting of the International Epidemiological Association (IEA) Florence, Italy, August 31– September 3, 1999.

Johannes E Schmidt, M.D. (M.P.H.,a,b)
- Epidemic Intelligence Service (EIS), Division of Applied Public Health Training, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia USA
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia USA
Susan D Hillis, Ph.D. (b)
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia USA
- Reprint requests: Susan D. Hillis, Ph.D., DRH/NCCDPHP (MS K-34), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770, Buford Highway, N.E., Atlanta, Georgia 30341 (FAX: 770-488-5965
Polly A Marchbanks, Ph.D. (b)
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia USA
Gary Jeng, Ph.D. (b)
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia USA
Herbert B Peterson, M.D. (b)
- Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia USA
for the U.S. Collaborative Review of Sterilization Working Group

Received 12 November 1999; accepted 11 May 2000.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the cumulative probabilities over 14 y of requesting information on sterilization reversal and of obtaining a reversal and to identify risk factors observable at sterilization for both measures of regret.

Design: The U.S. Collaborative Review of Sterilization, a prospective cohort study.

Setting: Fifteen medical centers in 9 cities.

Patient(s): 11,232 women.

Main Outcome Measure(s): Cumulative probabilities of requesting information on reversal and undergoing reversal.

Result(s): The 14-y cumulative probability of requesting reversal information was 14.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 12.4%–16.3%). Among women aged 18 to 24 y at sterilization, the cumulative probability was 40.4% (95% CI, 31.6%–49.2%). Women aged 18 to 24 y were almost 4 times as likely to request reversal information as were women ≥30 years of age (adjusted rate ratio [RR], 3.5; 95% CI, 2.8–4.4). Number of living children was not associated with requesting reversal information. The overall cumulative probability of obtaining reversal was 1.1% (95% CI, 0.5–1.6). Younger women (18 to 30 y) were more likely to obtain reversal (RR, 7.6; 95% CI, 3.2–18.3).

Conclusion(s): Women who were sterilized at a young age had a high chance of later requesting information about reversal, regardless of their number of living children.

Keywords: Tubal sterilization, poststerilization regret, request for reversal information, obtaining sterilization reversal