The UHS Operation

At the University Health Services, doctors formerly frequently sterilized women by hysterectomy before the advent of safer, simpler tubal ligation methods.

"But sterilization by hysterectomy is no longer appropriate. Sterilization is now a daytime procedure. My patients come and leave. Hysterectomy, on the other hand, is a major operation and should be done for more legitimate reasons that a patient's desire not to have a uterus or a doctor's desire to enrich himself," Dr. Paul Winig, Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, said.

Winig said that UHS, which established its gynecology department in 1973, has no history of sterilization abuse. UHS's two gynecologists perform sterilizations only by informed consent.

"Most people who consent to sterilization are older people who have completed their families. Occasionally, younger people without families will come in, but I try to discourage them from sterilization because there are so many other ways to keep them from getting pregnant without using such an irrevocable procedure," Winig added.

The Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology estimated that five undergraduates and graduates opt for sterilization a year.