Married women's dissatisfaction with tubal sterilization and vasectomy at first-year follow-up: effects of perceived spousal dominance

Examination of first-year follow-up data obtained from 234 tubal ligation women and 154 vasectomy wives indicated a very low incidence of actual regret in both groups. However, use of a broader measure of satisfaction/dissatisfaction indicated that tubal ligation women had significantly more positive feelings about the sterilization decision than did vasectomy wives. Results of a series of multivariate statistical analyses demonstrated that group differences in satisfaction were related to (1) the disproportionate prevalence of perceived male control (particularly extensive control) over reproductive decisions among vasectomy wives and the negative effect it had upon subjects in both groups and (2) the disproportionate prevalence of female control over reproductive decision-making among tubal ligation women and the positive effect it had among subjects in this group. Study results point to the importance of couple counseling and exercising control over one's own body.