Emergency Contraception & Sterilisation

Sterilisation

Regret

Factors associated with a higher rate of regret

• young age (<30 years at time of procedure)
• nulliparous or low parity (the number is not always defined in the literature but usually refers to two or fewer children)
• being in an unhappy relationship/in conflict with partner or spouse
• not being in a relationship
• remarriage/change of partner/change in relationship status
• death of a child
• desire to have children/more children – including with a new partner
• psychological problems/issues (implications beyond fertility issues)
• psychosexual issues
• coercion by health professional or partner/spouse
• timing of procedure in relation to pregnancy – interval sterilisation results in a reduced risk of regret
• information requirements in terms of the procedure, its efficacy, and alternative contraceptive choices.