| Procedure |
Class |
Class |
Rationale |
| |
General Anesthesia |
Local Anesthesia |
|
| Pelvic examination (speculum and bimanual) |
A |
A |
A pelvic exam is required to assess the size,
position and mobility of the uterus prior to surgery. |
| Blood pressure |
A |
B |
Hypertension increases the anesthesia risks
associated with female sterilization procedures. Postural hypotension increases the risk
of the procedure1. |
| Breast examination |
C |
C |
A breast exam is not necessary to ensure a
safe female sterilization procedure. |
| Sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening
by lab tests (for asymptomatic persons) |
C |
C |
STD screening by lab tests is not necessary
for a female sterilization. |
| Cervical cancer
screening |
C |
C |
Cervical cancer
screening is unrelated to the female sterilization procedure. |
| Routine, mandatory lab
tests (e.g., cholesterol, glucose, liver function tests) |
C |
C |
Cholesterol levels,
glucose levels and liver function do not affect the female sterilization procedure. |
| Hemoglobin level
testing |
B |
B |
- A hemoglobin level is recommended before female
sterilization. If a woman has symptomatic anemia, delay the procedure and treat the anemia1.
- If hemoglobin testing cannot be done, clinical
assessment of anemia is satisfactory, particularly when using local anesthesia with light
sedation.
|
| Urine sugar testing |
B |
B |
Undetected diabetes may
delay wound healing or increase risk of post-operative infection1. |
| Proper infection
prevention procedures |
A |
A |
Proper infection
prevention procedures are important to minimize the risk of infection to clients and
providers. |
Specific counseling
points for female sterilization:
- irreversibility of method
- efficacy
- common side effects
- signs and symptoms for which to see a health
provider
- STD protection (when/as appropriate)
- pre-operation instructions
- recovery/post-operation instructions
|
A |
A |
- Proper counseling is important to ensure informed
consent prior to having a sterilization operation.
- Proper counseling may also minimize future regret.
- Female sterilization should be considered a
permanent contraceptive method.
|
