Motivation for sterilization: A descriptive study

Abstract

Between June 1976 and January 1981, 1,000 women requested laparoscopic sterilization at the Centre for Human Reproduction, an independent clinic in Leiden, The Netherlands. The present paper describes the composition of this population and the motivation underlying their decision. Particularly noteworthy in this group is the high proportion of relatively young women (34% younger than 30 years) and women without children (35%). The study is descriptive in character.