The menstrual patterns of 281 women undergoing laparoscopic sterilization with silastic rings were studied prospectively. A significant increase in dysmenorrhea and irregular periods was seen soon after sterilization but this was transient, returning to presterilization levels by 12 months. Menorrhagia was not observed and the amount of menstrual blood loss showed a trend towards normal following sterilization. No permanent adverse effects on menstrual patterns were seen in the 1st year after sterilization. It is suggested that factors other than the sterilization procedure may be responsible for the high prevalence of menstrual dysfunction that has been reported following sterilization.
Twenty-one patients undergoing laparoscopy and chromotubation were investigated for the dissemination of endometrial cells into the pelvic cavity. Prechromotubation fluid and postchromotubation fluid from the posterior cul-de-sac were aspirated and subjected to cytological assessment. Four patients (15.4%) showed evidence of endometrial cell dissemination into the pelvic cavity.