Incidence, risk factors, and prevention of poststerilization regret in women: an updated international review from an epidemiological perspective.

Tubal sterilization is the world's most commonly used contraceptive method. Even a small proportion of women incurring poststerilization regret would translate into a large number of sufferers. In this review, we examine recent reports on the incidence of, and the risk factors for, posttubal sterilization regret in women and requests for sterilization reversal in both developed countries and less-developed countries. We also consider the implications of our findings in the practical prevention of poststerilization regret and requests for sterilization reversal, and discuss methodological issues.