Permanent contraception remains one of the most popular methods of contraception worldwide.
This article has reviewed recent literature related to demographic characteristics
of users, prevalence of use and trends over time, surgical techniques, and barriers
to obtain the procedure. We have emphasized the patient’s perspective as a key element
of choosing permanent contraception. This review has incorporated sections on salpingectomy,
hysteroscopy, unmet need, impact of policies at religiously affiliated institutions,
and reproductive coercion.
Key words
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to American Journal of Obstetrics & GynecologyAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Population Division. Contraceptive use by method 2019: data booklet.(Available at:) (Accessed November 3, 2020)
- Tubal sterilization trends in the United States.Fertil Steril. 2010; 94: 1-6
- Tubal sterilization: focus on the U.S. experience.Fertil Steril. 2000; 73: 913-922
- Permanent contraception: modern approaches justify a new name.Contraception. 2014; 89: 493-494
- Current contraceptive status among women aged 15-49: United States, 2017-2019.NCHS Data Brief. 2020; : 1-8
- Current contraceptive status among women aged 15–49: United States, 2015–2017. National Survey of Family Growth Data Brief 327. National Center for Health Statistics.(Available at:)https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db327_tables-508.pdf#3Date: 2018Date accessed: May 23, 2021
- Current contraceptive use in the United States, 2006-2010, and changes in patterns of use since 1995.Natl Health Stat Report. 2012; : 1-25
- Births: final data for 2019.Natl Vital Stat Rep. 2021; 70: 1-51
- Inpatient postpartum long-acting reversible contraception and sterilization in the United States, 2008-2013.Obstet Gynecol. 2017; 129: 1078-1085
- A qualitative study of barriers to postpartum sterilization and women’s attitudes toward unfulfilled sterilization requests.Contraception. 2008; 77: 44-49
- Association of short interpregnancy interval with pregnancy outcomes according to maternal age.JAMA Intern Med. 2018; 178: 1661-1670
- Safety and efficacy of hysteroscopic sterilization compared with laparoscopic sterilization: an observational cohort study.BMJ. 2015; 351: h5162
- Unmet demand for highly effective postpartum contraception in Texas.Contraception. 2014; 90: 488-495
- FDA activities related to Essure. Food and Drug Administration.(Available at:)https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/essure-permanent-birth-control/fda-activities-related-essureDate: 2021Date accessed: July 11, 2021
- Conceptus(R) announces settlement of patent infringement lawsuit with Hologic. GlobeNewswire.(Available at:)https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2012/04/30/474765/253823/en/Conceptus-R-Announces-Settlement-of-Patent-Infringement-Lawsuit-With-Hologic.htmlDate: 2012Date accessed: July 11, 2021
- Review of sterilization techniques and clinical updates.J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2018; 25: 1157-1164
- Management of complications encountered with Essure hysteroscopic sterilization: a systematic review.J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2014; 21: 733-743
- Association of hysteroscopic vs laparoscopic sterilization with procedural, gynecological, and medical outcomes.JAMA. 2018; 319: 375-387
- Seven-year outcomes after hysteroscopic and laparoscopic sterilizations.Obstet Gynecol. 2019; 133: 323-331
- Probability of pregnancy after sterilization: a comparison of hysteroscopic versus laparoscopic sterilization.Contraception. 2014; 90: 174-181
- Post-Essure hysterosalpingography compliance in a clinic population.J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2008; 15: 431-434
- Hysteroscopic sterilization in a large group practice: experience and effectiveness.Obstet and Gynecol. 2009; 114: 1227-1231
- 522 Postmarket surveillance studies database.(Available at:)https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cdrh/cfdocs/cfPMA/pss.cfmDate: 2021Date accessed: July 12, 2021
- U.S. Cancer Statistics Data Visualizations Tool, based on 2020 submission data (1999-2018).U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Cancer Institute, 2021 (Available at:)https://gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/#/AtAGlance/Date accessed: July 12, 2021
- The role of the fallopian tube in the origin of ovarian cancer.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2013; 209: 409-414
- Ovarian cancer risk after salpingectomy: a nationwide population-based study.J Natl Cancer Inst. 2015; 107: dju410
- Effect of tubal sterilization technique on risk of serous epithelial ovarian and primary peritoneal carcinoma.Gynecol Oncol. 2014; 135: 423-427
- Opportunistic salpingectomy: uptake, risks, and complications of a regional initiative for ovarian cancer prevention.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2014; 210: 471.e1-471.e11
- Tubal ligation, hysterectomy, unilateral oophorectomy, and risk of ovarian cancer in the Nurses’ Health Studies.Fertil Steril. 2014; 102: 192-198.e3
- Costs and benefits of opportunistic salpingectomy as an ovarian cancer prevention strategy.Obstet Gynecol. 2015; 125: 338-345
- Salpingectomy for sterilization: change in practice in a large integrated health care system, 2011-2016.Obstet Gynecol. 2017; 130: 961-967
- Genetic/familial high-risk assessment: breast, ovarian, and pancreatic, version 2.2021, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2021; 19: 77-102
- Salpingectomy vs tubal ligation for sterilization: a systematic review and meta-analysis.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2021; 224: 258-265.e4
- ACOG Committee Opinion No. 774 Summary: opportunistic salpingectomy as a strategy for epithelial ovarian cancer prevention.Obstet Gynecol. 2019; 133: e279-e284
- Frequency and characteristics associated with opportunistic salpingectomy at cesarean delivery: a retrospective chart review.Contraception. 2021; 103: 203-207
- Management of long-term and reversible hysteroscopic sterilization: a novel device with nickel-titanium shape memory alloy.Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2014; 12: 61
- Transcervical administration of polidocanol foam prevents pregnancy in female baboons.Contraception. 2016; 94: 527-533
- Pilot bi-lateral tubal occlusion trial for female permanent contraception (BLOC).(Available at:)https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03067272?term=FemBloc&draw=2&rank=3Date: 2021Date accessed: July 12, 2021
- FemBloc®. Contraception pivotal trial.(Available at:)https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03433911?term=FemBloc&draw=2&rank=2Date: 2021Date accessed: July 12, 2021
- Medicaid policy on sterilization--anachronistic or still relevant?.N Engl J Med. 2014; 370: 102-104
- One-year follow-up of women with unfulfilled postpartum sterilization requests.Obstet Gynecol. 2010; 116: 1071-1077
- Medicaid and fulfillment of desired postpartum sterilization.Contraception. 2018; 97: 559-564
- Barriers to completion of desired postpartum sterilization.R I Med J (2013). 2013; 96: 32-34
- Postpartum intrauterine device insertion and postpartum tubal sterilization in the United States.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012; 206: 127.e1-127.e7
- Barriers to obtaining a desired postpartum tubal sterilization.Contraception. 2006; 73: 404-407
- Access to postpartum sterilization: ACOG committee opinion, Number 827.Obstet Gynecol. 2021; 137: e169-e176
- Obstetrician-gynecologists’ counseling regarding postpartum sterilization.Int J Womens Health. 2018; 10: 425-429
- Frustrated demand for sterilization among low-income Latinas in El Paso, Texas.Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2012; 44: 228-235
- Health care denied. Patients and physicians speak out about catholic hospitals and the threat to women’s health and lives.American Civil Liberties Union, 2016 (Available at:)https://www.aclu.org/sites/default/files/field_document/healthcaredenied.pdfDate accessed: July 12, 2021
- Divergent practices among Catholic hospitals in provision of direct sterilization.Linacre Q. 2013; 80: 32-38
- Do women know whether their hospital is Catholic? Results from a national survey.Contraception. 2018; 98: 498-503
- Disclosure of religious identity and health care practices on Catholic Hospital Websites.JAMA. 2019; 321: 1103-1104
- Tubal ligation in Catholic hospitals: a qualitative study of Ob-Gyns’ experiences.Contraception. 2014; 90: 422-428
- Reasons for preferring a primary care physician for care if depressed.Fam Med. 2011; 43: 344-350
- Women’s expectation of receiving reproductive health care at Catholic and non-catholic hospitals.Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2019; 51: 135-142
- Are women aware of religious restrictions on reproductive health at Catholic hospitals? A survey of women’s expectations and preferences for family planning care.Contraception. 2014; 90: 429-434
Shepherd K, Platt ER, Chiasson MA. Bearing faith the limits of catholic health care for women of color authors data analysis. Available at: https://lawrightsreligion.law.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/BearingFaith.pdf. Accessed July 20, 2021.
- What are women told when requesting family planning services at clinics associated with Catholic hospitals? A mystery caller study.Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2017; 49: 207-212
- Catholic health care and women’s health.Obstet Gynecol. 2018; 131: 534-537
- Medicaid postpartum coverage extension tracker. Kettering Family Foundation,
2021 (Available at:)https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/medicaid-postpartum-coverage-extension-tracker/Date accessed: November 21, 2021
- Recommendations and conclusions Presidential Task Force on redefining the postpartum visit committee on obstetric practice optimizing postpartum care committee opinion optimizing postpartum care e141.2018: 131
- Federally funded sterilization: time to rethink policy?.Am J Public Health. 2012; 102: 1822-1825
- Desired sterilization procedure at the time of cesarean delivery according to insurance status.Obstet Gynecol. 2019; 134: 1171-1177
- Role of bridge contraception in postpartum long-acting reversible contraception and sterilization fulfillment rates.Obstet Gynecol. 2018; 132: 583-590
- Medicaid sterilization consent forms: variation in rejection and payment consequences.Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2020; 223: 934-936
- Perceptions and practice of state Medicaid officials regarding informed consent for female sterilization.Contraception. 2020; 102: 368-375
- COVID-19 highlights the policy barriers and complexities of postpartum sterilization.Contraception. 2021; 103: 3-5
- STERILIZED in the name of public health: race, immigration, and reproductive control in modern California.Am J Public Health. 2005; 95: 1128-1138
- “If They Hand You a Paper, You Sign It”: a call to end the sterilization of women in prison.Hastings Womens Law J. 2015; 26
- White county judge rescinds order coercing sterilization and birth control.(Available at:)https://www.aclu-tn.org/white-county-judge-rescinds-order-coercing-sterilization-and-birth-control/Date: 2017Date accessed: February 7, 2021
- Politics and female sterilization in Northeast Brazil.Popul Dev Rev. 2004; 30: 79-108
- Reports of coerced sterilization of Indigenous women in Canada mirrors shameful past.CMAJ. 2017; 189: E1080-E1081
- Fertility, family planning, and women’s health: new data from the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth.Vital Health Stat 23. 1997; 19: 1-114
- Contraceptive use in the United States: 1982–90.Adv Data. 1995; : 1-15
- Contraceptive utilization: United States, 1976.Vital Health Stat. 1981; 23: 1-58
- Surgical sterilization in the United States: prevalence and characteristics, 1965-95.Vital Health Stat. 1998; 23: 1-33
Article Info
Publication History
Published online: December 29, 2021
Accepted:
December 23,
2021
Received in revised form:
December 2,
2021
Received:
September 13,
2021
Footnotes
P.M.C. receives research funding from and consultation fees for Bayer Pharmaceuticals. C.L.W. receives honoraria as a Data and Safety Monitoring Board member for Bayer and Merck and consultation fees for HRA Pharma, TherapeuticsMD, and Mayne. The other authors report no conflict of interest.
Identification
Copyright
© 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
