Long-term effects of interval laparoscopic sterilization by bipolar electrocoagulation on menstruation.

We studied the menstrual patterns of 258 patients before and after laparoscopic sterilization by bipolar diathermy. The observed changes were obtained were mainly related to the kind of contraception used before sterilization. The frequency of menstrual disorders after sterilization were compared to those in a control group of non-sterilized women matched for age and parity: 12--42 months after the operation, the sterilized women did not have more irregular cycles, menorrhagia, metrorrhagia, hysmenorrhea or dyspareunia than the control group but the sterilized women did have a slightly higher incidence of polymenorrhea (p less than 0.05) and menses lasting less than 3 days (p less than 0.01). We conclude that interval laparoscopic sterilization by bipolar diathermy can be recommended for patients with normal menstrual cycles.