Female Sterilization: The Most Popular Method of Modern Contraception

Published by the INFO Project at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, this one-page technical brief make the following statements regarding the safety and effectiveness of female sterilisation:

• "Female sterilization is the most widely used modern method in the world, including developing regions and many developed countries such as the United States.
• Female sterilization is a safe, highly effective, relatively simple, surgical means of contraception that can usually be provided in an outpatient setting and is intended to be permanent.
• Effective FP/RH [family planning/reproductive health] programs should have an active, accessible, voluntary female sterilization component that delivers quality services to women who make a free and informed choice for this method from within a range of contraceptive options."

According to this report, there are a number of ways to improve access and assure quality of female sterilisation services. Some of the lessons learned include:

• "Center program efforts on the client by providing effective counseling and communication.
• Train, equip, supervise, and support providers to offer locally acceptable, feasible, safe and effective female sterilization services.
• Strengthen the role of community-based advocates (e.g., satisfied clients, community health workers) for outreach, counseling, and/or demand creation.
• Tailor the program to its local context by developing post-partum and post-abortion, private sector, and mobile outreach services, using appropriate technologies and methodologies."