[The quality of life after tubal ligation].
OBJECTIVE
To analyse the attitude, physical and psychological repercussions of sterilisation on Portuguese women in order to determine their quality of life.


METHODS
Retrospective study of women submitted to sterilisation between 1988 and 1991, by means of a questionnaire mailed in June 1992.


METHODS
Family planning clinic, S. Francisco Xavier Hospital, Lisbon.


METHODS
Between 1988 and 1991, 540 women were sterilised at the Gynaecology/Obstetrics Department of S. Francisco Xavier, 308 of which were included in the study (women who were sterilised with a pathology which might interfere with the results and those who were sterilised during a caesarean section, post partum or post abortion were excluded). MAIN DETERMINATIONS: Descriptive and demographic data taken from the clinical files and the results of a mailed questionnaire with eleven groups of questions on their attitudes, opinions and behaviour as well as gynaecological and sexual complaints, all with regard to sterilisation.


RESULTS
106 women (34.5%) replied to the mailed questionnaire. An overwhelming majority felt satisfied (97.1%) and well informed (98%) regarding sterilisation. Sexual satisfaction and coital frequency improved or remained the same in 92.1% of the women and a slightly lower number (85.3%) stated that their sexual interest had improved or remained the same. All the women stated that the sexual interest of their partners had not diminished. The symptoms which were most frequently referred to as being worse or which had recurred were alterations in the menstrual cycle (43.1%), dysmenorrhea (16.7%) and mastodynia (16.7%).


CONCLUSIONS
The majority of women (3/4) presented good or very good results in terms of quality of life.
Saraiva
J
J
Serviço de Obstetrícia/Ginecologia, Hospital de S. Francisco Xavier, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Lisboa.
Carvalho
V
V
Almeida
C
C
Garcia
M J
MJ
Oliveira
A G
AG
Branco
J
J
D000328:Adult; D001294:Attitude to Health; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005831:Genital Diseases, Female / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D011174:Portugal; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D013246:Sterilization, Tubal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Qualidade de vida após laqueação tubar.