Contraceptive use before tubal sterilization.

A woman's decision to undergo tubal sterilization may be affected by her experience with temporary contraception. To examine this issue we analyzed data from the Collaborative Review of Sterilization, a multicenter, prospective study of the health effects of sterilization operations on women aged 15-44 years. Data on contraceptive use by a comparison group of nonsterilized women were drawn from a random, population-based sample of women aged 20-44 years who were controls in a large study of cancer and steroid hormone use. Sterilized women reported ever using a higher average number of contraceptive methods than did nonsterilized women. As compared with nonsterilized women, a higher percentage of sterilized women reported ever using contraceptives (99% versus 91%), especially two types, barrier and rhythm or withdrawal. Prior to selecting sterilization as a permanent contraceptive method, the sterilized women had more extensive experience with temporary contraceptives, particularly the less effective ones, than did the comparable nonsterilized women.