Characteristics of women who considered or obtained tubal reanastomosis: results from a prospective study of tubal sterilization

The Collaborative Review of Sterilization is a prospective study of women undergoing tubal sterilization at selected medical centers in the United States. This analysis examined 5817 study participants who were asked whether they had sought information on tubal reanastomosis after their sterilizations and whether they had actually obtained reanastomosis surgery. Characteristics that predicted the likelihood of seeking reanastomosis information were examined in multivariate, logistic regression models that included age, race, number of living children, history of abortion, education, timing of sterilization in relation to pregnancy, initial marital status, and change in marital status. Among the women studied, 6.2% reported that they had sought information on reanastomosis. Women who were younger than 30 years old at the time of sterilization were twice as likely to seek such information as women aged 30-34, and women who had experienced changes in martial status after sterilization were 2.8 times as likely to seek information as women with unchanged marital status. Thirteen women had actually obtained reanastomosis. Compared with the overall study population, these women were more likely to be white, to have lower gravidity, to be younger, and to have experienced changes in marital status.