The present study aims at discussing the women's option for sterilization. 215 sterilized women residing in the southern area of the city of São Paulo in 1992 where interviewed. The use of contraceptive methods before sterilization, the reasons of this choice and the satisfaction with sterilization were analysed. From among women that have used reversible methods before sterilization, 67% referred the pill. 67% of women referred problems with the precedent method as the reason for leaving its use. 91% affirmed they were satisfied with the irreversible method. 74% answered the sterilization brought no changes in their lives and 60% answered there was no modification in affective and sexual relationship. The analysis of the questions about the situation of woman after sterilization, yielded that the health problems attributed to reversible methods and the security in view of unwanted pregnancy are the main elements determining the satisfaction with the sterilization. The analysis undertaken in this study suggests the option for sterilization is related to the problems derived from the indiscriminate use of pill and lack of effective assistance to reproductive health, pointing to importance of implementing health programs in this field.
women health; reprodution health; sterelization