Which Women Regret Their Sterilization Decisions?

Tubal sterilization is the second most common contraceptive method in the U.S., but some reports have shown poststerilization regret rates as high as 26%. Now, in a study based on the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth (which involved a representative sample of U.S. women and men [age range, 15–44]), investigators assessed desire for reversal in participants who had undergone tubal sterilization.

The sample included 934 women (61% white, 20% Latina, 19% black) who had undergone tubal sterilization at age 18 to 44. Overall, about 24% (21% white, 27% Latina, 30% black) responded “definitely yes” or “probably yes” to the question “If your tubal sterilization could be reversed safely, would you want to have it reversed?” After adjustment for …