A rights-protection goldmine or a waiting volcanic eruption? Competence of, and access to, the human rights jurisdiction of the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice

Abstract

A review of the long-term sequelae of female sterilization has been made. There is little support for the belief that the procedure leads to an increased incidence of menstrual problems, psychological difficulties, or subsequent surgery. All presently available techniques occasionally fail. The rate is not significantly greater when mechanical methods are employed. The proportion that are ectopic, however, is greatly increased following tubal diathermy. Reversal requests per 1,000 women sterilized are numerically higher than failure rates. Success rates following reversal are far higher when mechanical techniques have been used.