Tubal sterilization is a safe contraceptive method. It is estimated to be performed in 700000 women each year in the United States. Until the 1970s most procedures were performed via laparotomic incision following cesarean section. Since then as laparoscopic techniques evolved minilaparotomic incisions have been used for sterilization especially in the postpartum period. Yet a vaginal approach through the posterior vaginal fornix was also used before the introduction of laparoscopic procedures as well as transcervical approaches. In this study 302 tubal ligations performed via posterior colpotomy were evaluated. The mean age of patients was 34.4 years and mean gravidity and parity were 4.3 and 3.2 respectively. Patients were followed up for a mean period of 51.4 months. (excerpt)