The aim of this study was to investigate the changes in the molecular structure and physiological activities of silk fibroin induced by three different sterilization methods (steam, gamma radiation and ethylene oxide) with different dose or time period of sterilization by means of Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, mechanical properties and assessment of molecul...

Brazilian women rely on sterilization as the main source of birth control. Sterilization has been one of the causes of the steep decline in fertility in Brazil, at least since the second half of 1970. It is hypothesized that understanding couples' relationships might be key to explaining this high rate of female sterilizations. Possible reasons for the higher level of fertility among women in u...

Sterilization is one of the most frequently chosen forms of contraception in the world;1 many persons who do not want to have children select this simple, safe, and effective means of avoiding unwanted pregnancy. For individuals who are mentally disabled, however, sterilization has more ominous associations. Until recently, involuntary sterilization was used as a weapon of the state in the war ...

Male sterilization (vasectomy) is the most effective form and only long-acting form of contraception available to men in the United States. Compared to female sterilization, it is more efficacious, more cost-effective, and has lower rates of complications. Despite these advantages, in the United States, vasectomy is utilized at less than half the rate of female sterilization. In addition, vasec...

Tubal sterilization is a common form of contraception in the United States and is hypothesized to be associated with a lower risk of breast cancer. However, prior observational studies have reported inconsistent results. We investigated the association between tubal sterilization and breast cancer risk among 77,249 postmenopausal, cancer-free women in the Cancer Prevention Study II (CPS-II) Nut...

Surgical sterilization is a relatively permanent form of contraception that has been disproportionately used by Black, Hispanic, and Native American women in the United States in the past. We use a nationally representative sample of 4592 women ages 25-45 to determine whether sterilization continues to be more common and consequential by race for reproductive-age women. Results indicate that Na...

CONTEXT The needs of children with disability can be substantial, leading some parents to consider contraceptive sterilization to prevent additional births. METHODS Matched records from the 1993 National Health Interview Survey and the 1995 National Survey of Family Growth were used to investigate the relationship between child disability and mothers' sterilization. Data included the birth re...

Much evidence suggests that demand for sterilization is a function of supply of surgical sterilization services in less-developed countries. If such services were greatly expanded, the number of procedures performed would grow dramatically. While the prevalence of sterilization is estimated to increase from 23.5% to 28.8% of married women of reproductive age in the 1990s, there will actually be...

Much evidence suggests that demand for sterilization is a function of supply of surgical sterilization services in less-developed countries. If such services were greatly expanded, the number of procedures performed would grow dramatically. While the prevalence of sterilization is estimated to increase from 23.5% to 28.8% of married women of reproductive age in the 1990s, there will actually be...

Any hospital or facility in which surgery and other invasive procedures are performed should have accommodations for cleaning, decontaminating, disinfecting, and sterilizing instruments, equipment, and other essential supplies that are used for patient procedures. Sterilization is essential to reducing or preventing the risk of surgical site infections. This is a collaborative process and shoul...