Be. Ehn et J. Liljestrand, FEMALE AND MALE STERILIZATION AND REFERTILIZATION IN SWEDEN, Gynecologic and obstetric investigation, 44(3), 1997, pp. 182-186
In Sweden, approximately 1,500 men and 7,000 women are sterilized year
ly. The frequency varies considerably between regions. The reasons for
these differences are not fully known. More women than men are steril
ized in Sweden, but a higher proportion of sterilized men undergo refe
rtilization. The object of the study was to analyze counselling routin
es prior to sterilization, presterilization waiting time, the number o
f refertilizations performed, the attitudes of the operating departmen
ts towards refertilization, and the possible relation between frequenc
y of refertilization and incidence of sterilization. A questionnaire w
as mailed to all units performing refertilizations and/or sterilizatio
ns of mean and women in Sweden (n = 161). The response was 93%. Counse
lling routines and waiting times before sterilization varied, which in
fluenced the operation's availability. The frequency of refertilizatio
ns varied considerably between counties from 0.5 to 5.4 per 100,000 in
habitants. There was no correlation between frequency of sterilization
s and refertilizations. The rate of refertilization appears to be dete
rmined mostly by the local attitudes of the health authority. The Swed
ish sterilization law has had a heterogeneous impact in the country.