Late sequelae following laparoscopic sterilization employing electrocoagulation and tubal ring techniques: a comparative study.

Data on 211 consecutive laparoscopic sterilized women were compared. Half the patients were sterilized using unipolar electrocoagulation and the rest had tubal rings. The period of observation was 21-50 months, median 36.5 months. Four failures were observed, median 15 months after the operation. Pregnancy rates were 0.32 per 100 woman years using electrocoagulation and 1.02 using tubal rings. A total of 11% had experienced low abdominal pain and 4% dyspareunia. Menstrual pattern changes were reported by 31% in the electrocoagulation group and 43% in the tubal ring group. The rates of late sequelae were statistically significant independent of the technique employed.