Women’s attitudes to an exciting new method of female sterilisation have been evaluated in March’s edition of the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology BJOG.
At present, laparoscopy is the commonest mode of surgery for women in the UK, but this new method, currently being assessed under trial conditions, is via a small instrument passed into the womb (a hysteroscope). Insertion of the device is quick with the majority of cases taking under 11 minutes and the patient going home within minutes of the procedure.
It is also acceptable for this new method to be performed in outpatients, although women still show a preference to have general anaesthesia.
The study was to determine which route women would actually favour, laparoscopic sterilisation or hysteroscopic sterilisation when given the choice.
Despite the advantages of an outpatient setting, especially for those wanting a speedy recovery and a rapid return to normal activities, the results were surprising.
Of the 96 women given the option, 77% would prefer laparoscopic sterilisation over the hysteroscopic procedure (23%). Age, obstetric history, employment and marital status, access to transport and previous anaesthetic did not significantly influence the choice made.
Sean Duffy, lead author says, “The study reported here was designed to test the ability to run a randomised trial where patients with no preference can be recruited. The results suggest that such a trial would not be feasible. New procedures are often viewed with caution by patients when there are well-established older techniques available. In larger (non-randomised) studies of patient satisfaction with this new method of female sterilisation the reported satisfaction rates are extremely high.”
Peter Bowen-Simpkins, RCOG says, “Although this study reports that women preferred a general anaesthetic, the procedure itself is innovative and exciting and potentially will reduce the risks of sterilisation associated with laparoscopy.”
Ends
Notes to Editor:
All the women in this study were between the ages of 17 and 69 year old with an average age of 38 years.
