Surgical sterilization, regret, and race: Contemporary patterns

Abstract

Surgical sterilization is a relatively permanent form of contraception that has been disproportionately used by Black, Hispanic, and Native American women in the United States in the past. We use a nationally representative sample of 4,609 women ages 25 to 45 to determine whether sterilization continues to be more common and consequential by race for reproductive-age women. Results indicate that Native American and Black women are more likely to be sterilized than non-Hispanic White women, and Hispanic and Native American women are more likely than non-Hispanic White women to report that their sterilization surgeries prevent them from conceiving children they want. Reasons for sterilization differ significantly by race. These findings suggest that stratified reproduction has not ended in the United States and that the patterns and consequences of sterilization continue to vary by race.

Postpartum care and contraception provided to women with gestational and preconception diabetes in California's Medicaid program

“…Taken together, these studies highlight the need to ensure that women with diabetes receive up to date information on alternatives to permanent contraception. Nationally, 24% of women express desire for reversal of sterilization, with even higher rates of regret among Black women [20] [21]. Intrauterine and subdermal contraceptives are both more effective than tubal ligation [22] and promptly reversible.…”

Female Sterilization and Poor Mental Health: Rates and Relatedness among American Indian and Alaska Native Women

“…Although the inequitable burden of disease among AI/AN populations is well documented, small AI/AN sample sizes limit the capacity to demonstrate relationships with plausible individual and structural factors associated with such problems. The lack of available data is problematic for efforts to promote AI/AN health equity because it inhibits the exploration of the etiology of disease and the design of effective interventions (Shreffler, McQuillan, Greil, & Johnson, 2015;HHS, 2007;UIHI, 2010;Watanabe-Galloway, Duran, Stimpson, & Smith, 2013).…”

“…The prevalence of female sterilization varies by racial/ethnic group in the United States, and minority women are more likely to report sterilization (Shreffler et al, 2015). Data from the National Survey of Family Growth shows that female sterilization is used by 20% of Hispanic and 22% of non-Hispanic Black reproductive age women, relative to 15% of non-Hispanic White women (Mosher & Jones, 2010).…”

“…Personal reasons, such as a woman's age, parity, social support systems, mental health status, and financial security, may lead some women to choose sterilization (EngenderHealth, 2002;Gomez, Fuentes, & Allina, 2014;Lopez, 1993;Shreffler et al, 2015). Other structural and social factors, including the quality of information provided by health care professionals and social beliefs around the use of sterilization, may also play a role (EngenderHealth, 2002;Leyser-Whalen & Berenson, 2013;Lopez, 1993).…”

“…Taken together, more research is needed to explore the rates of sterilization and psychological distress in AI/AN populations, the potential association between sterilization and mental health, and variation in rates and associations by race/ethnicity. Although female sterilization can be an empowering method for fertility control, it has a weighty negative history as a method used to eugenically control and marginalize minority populations, including AI/AN (Lawrence, 2000;Schoen, 2005;Shreffler et al, 2015;Stern, 2005;Torpy, 2000). Several reports document sterilization abuses against AI/AN women by the Indian Health Service in the 1970s, most of which were performed by White male physicians who gave social and economic justifications for the sterilizations (Carpio, 2004;Lawrence, 2000).…”