A 30-year-old woman who delivered a healthy infant 3 days ago requests immediate permanent sterilization. She has no medical comorbidities and is hemodynamically stable. Which of the following is the most appropriate management?

• A Perform minilap tubectomy only after 6 weeks to reduce infection risk
• B Wait until 6 weeks postpartum to perform interval laparoscopic tubectomy
• C Perform minilap tubectomy within the next 48 hours before discharge ✓
• D Perform the procedure only after the first postpartum menstrual period

Explanation

Postpartum tubectomy (minilap) is ideally performed within 7 days of delivery, preferably within 48 hours, when the uterus is still enlarged and tubes are easily accessible. Waiting until 6 weeks is interval sterilization, not immediate postpartum. The 48-hour window is standard in India's family planning programme.

Reference: Park's Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 27th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.