Hysteroscopic Versus Laparoscopic Sterilization — Is One Safer?

By the Editors

For women seeking tubal sterilization, both hysteroscopic and laparoscopic procedures carry benefits and risks, according to a JAMA study.

Using French health databases, researchers studied over 100,000 women who underwent a first hysteroscopic or laparoscopic sterilization from 2010 through 2014. After multivariable adjustment, hysteroscopic sterilization, compared with laparoscopic sterilization, was associated with a significantly lower risk for surgical or medical complications during the hospital stay — but with a significantly higher risk for gynecologic disorders at 1 and 3 years. For example, in-hospital surgical complications occurred in 0.13% of hysteroscopy patients vs. 0.78% laparoscopy patients, whereas tubal disorder or surgery at 1 year occurred in 0.70% vs. 0.23%.

In NEJM Journal Watch Women's Health, Dr. Robert Barbieri explains why he routinely offers three alternatives to the above procedures for women in his practice — and how he proceeds when women turn down those alternatives. Have a look at the link below.