Selective Sterlisation

Chennai: Though various methods are available for sterilisation, tubectomy is widely used in the state as it can be done within 2 or 3 days of delivery. Out of an expected 4 lakh sterilisation procedures in 2014-2015, tubectomy in women is expected to contribute to around 90 per cent of the total cases.New mother Kavithayini L. Nandagopal from Kilpauk says, “I opted for tubectomy since I need not come to the hospital again for sterilisation.”

Director of the Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (IOG) and Government Hospital for Women and Children, Dr G. Uma Shanthi says, “Tubectomy is followed in Tamil Nadu for more than five or six decades. Laparoscopy, a new method, which is also followed here for more than three to four decades, is preferred next. This procedure cannot be done immediately after delivery and there should be at least a gap of 6 weeks after delivery.”

Dr P. Padmavathy, gynaecologist and Associate Professor of IOG, says that the risk of failure of surgery is only between 0.5 to 1 per cent in the permanent method. She adds that other temporary methods include the copper-T which lasts for 10 years, emergency pills that should be taken within 48 hours of intercourse and oral pills that should be taken for three weeks to avoid conception.

Dr A. Chandranathan, director of medical and rural health services and former director in-charge of family welfare says, “Male sterilisation is yet to gain importance in the country. Non-scalpel vasectomy is the latest in the country and has been in vogue for the last four years. Though male sterilisation is less in Tamil Nadu, it has risen by 10 to 20 per cent in the last two years.”

Of the 1,90,748 sterilisation procedures done in 2014-2015 until October 2014, 1,70,182 tubectomy procedures were done on women which contributes to 89.2, while 20,008 laparoscopic procedures contribute to 10.5 per cent and 558 vasectomy procedures in men contribute to 0.3 per cent.

According to the ministry of health and family welfare, during 2014-2015 (up to October 2014) Tamil Nadu has performed 1,90,748 cases out of an expected 2.3 lakh. The target has decreased by 6,214 sterilisations, compared to the previous year’s cases in the corresponding period. The number of vasectomy cases is 558, against 907 for the corresponding period last year.