During the 1970s, tubal sterilization became an important method of fertility control in the United States. Over the same period laparoscopy emerged as an important innovation, one that has been associated with both a shift from postpartum to interval sterilization and a dramatic decrease in length of hospital stay required for sterilization. The use of laparoscopy has also been associated with an increase in hospital-based outpatient sterilization, particularly in the West. The number of sterilizations performed in hospitals and the use of laparoscopy for interval sterilization in hospitals both appear to have peaked. The laparoscope is an example of a technologic advance that has reduced medical care costs.

作者：H B, Peterson；J R, Greenspan；F, DeStefano；H W, Ory；P M, Layde

来源：American journal of obstetrics and gynecology 1981 年 140卷 7期