PSYCHOSEXUAL ADJUSTMENT FOLLOWING STERILIZATION - A PROSPECTIVE-STUDYON CHINESE WOMEN

The present study aimed to identify significant predictors of Chinese women's psychosexual adjustment after sterilization. One hundred fifte en multiparous Chinese women, aged 25-51 years, were interviewed befor e and after elective laparoscopic or postpartum sterilization. Eight-s even women were also interviewed about their psychosexual adjustment a t 1 year after sterilization. Results showed that the fear of negative evaluation by others, family cohesion and adaptability, and preoperat ive psychological distress were robust predictors of adverse psychosex ual outcome immediately and 1 year after sterilization. There was sign ificant improvement in women's mental health following sterilization, and their sexual adjustment such as coital frequency and sexual satisf action were not adversely affected at 1 year follow-up. Women with eit her elective or postpartum sterilization had similar adjustment throug hout, except the latter group tended to experience more physical disco mfort at 1 year follow-up. About 3.4% of the women experienced regret at 12 months after sterilization. Copyright (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.