Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Journal of Reproduction & Infertility

Post-sterilization regret rate in sterilized women referring to Tabriz health centers

Authors
1 Department of Midwifery, Marand Islamic Azad University, Marand, Iran
2 Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Nursing & Midwifery, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
3 Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
4 Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: One of the effective methods in family planning is sterilization of women. However, some women who choose this method may later suffer from a neurotic syndrome, which is demonstrated by pain, depression, hypochondriasis and loss of libido. With respect to the long-term psychological sequelae of sterilization, among which post-operation regret tops the rest, this study was designed to determine post-operation regret rates, request for reversal and attempt to reverse the operation, as well as secondary objectives, rates of depression and anxiety. Materials & Methods: The study design was a descriptive-analytical one, in which 150 steri-lized women, who had been operated 1-10 years prior to the study, were selected through cluster random sampling. Data collection was done by two questionnaires:1) A questionnaire on demog-raphic characteristics and post-sterilization regret and 2) Zung self-rating depression and anxiety scale. The data were analyzed by SPSS, version 11.5. Results: In this study, 6% of the sterilized women expressed regret and 2.7% requested a reversal surgery. None of the subjects had undergone a reversal surgery. 13.3% and 24.7% of the sterilized women had some degrees of depression and anxiety respectively. The means of depre-ssion and anxiety scores were significantly lower in women who expressed adequate post-sterilization rest (p=0.008 and p=0.02 respectively). Conclusion: The results of this research, as well as personality differences and adaptability to changes, revealed that pre-sterilization counseling and post-sterilization follow-ups have an important role in women's psychological health promotion.
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