Delayed postpartum sterilization.

A series of 75 women who requested immediate postpartum sterilization were told this would not be carried out till three months postpartum, and only 64 women subsequently underwent sterilization. While some may regard this as a failure of a family limitation programme, the mental well-being of the woman is better served by allowing time for reflection before undergoing what is virtually an irreversible procedure.Though depot medroxyprogesterone acetate was associated with irregular and unpredictable bleeding in almost 25% of the patients its acceptability and value as a temporary postpartum contraceptive was confirmed.