FEMALE AND MALE STERILIZATION AND REFERTILIZATION IN SWEDEN

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.