Female Sterilization Failure reported during 5 Years at a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital: A Retrospective Survey

Abstract

Aim:To study the changing trends of female sterilization failures reported during past 5 years (October 2011 to September 2016, and their etiological factors and outcome of pregnancies resulting due to failure at a tertiary center. Materials and methods:A retrospective study was conducted that included all women who had reported as tubal ligation failure in the family planning unit of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in our institution during a 5-year span (2011 to 2016). Data were collected from case records maintained in the Family Planning Unit and Medical Record Department. Results:Sixty-eight cases of sterilization failure with longest interval of 19 years were documented, out of which 21 (30.9%) were interval laparoscopic ligation, 29 (42.6%) medical termination of pregnancy with lap ligation, 2 (0.9%) postpartum sterilization, and 10 (14.7%) concurrent with lower segment cesarean section. Only 37 (54.41%) patients reported failure in 1st trimester, 4 (5.8%) were beyond 20 weeks gestation, and 2 (2.9%) presented as ruptured ectopic pregnancy. There were six cases (14%) of spontaneous recanalization, three (6.9%) due to tuboperitoneal fistula, and 79% due to improper surgical technique. Conclusion:Female sterilization failure is a proven entity that can occur at any age, method, and interval. Failures due to improper technique can be prevented by following standard guidelines for tubal sterilization.