Voluntary sterilization in Flanders

Abstract

SummaryIn a follow-up of males and females after voluntary surgical sterilization, the social characteristics of the applicants, their fertility and contraceptive history, their motivation, the indication for and mode of surgical contraception, the physical and psychological consequences of the operation, and the outcome of the selection and counselling procedures applied, were studied in a sample of 275 applications with a total of 540 subjects. The survey comprised the pre-operative examination, the first post-operative evaluation 4 months after surgery and the second after 12 months.The main reasons for applying for sterilization were excess fertility due to contraceptive failures and side-effects of reversible contraceptive methods. Almost all of the patients were satisfied with the operation, one of the highest proportions reported so far. Nevertheless, many experienced a real adjustment period. Notwithstanding the careful pre-operative information and counselling, serious fears were often observed, and many found the operation more severe than expected. For the vast majority of the patients the operation had no influence on their family relations. The sexual relationship too was usually unchanged. If there were changes, the positive effects always exceeded the negative ones.The high response to both the evaluations and the high proportions of satisfied individuals are in favour of the selection procedures and multidisciplinary counselling and follow-up practised.