Psychosocial factors influencing American men and women in their decision for sterilization.

A self-administered questionnaire was answered by nearly 300 surgically sterilized men and over 200 such women 6 weeks after their surgery. Nearly half of these Americans were from large families. More women than men reported a history of medical, gynecologic, or psychiatric problems; one half had been pregnant four or more times; one third reported recent pregnancy. Most sterilized people reported an unsatisfactory contraceptive history. Despite that women had more complications from the procedure than men, improved psychosocial adjustment between 6 weeks before and 6 weeks after sterilization was reported by more women than men.