033174 More and More, Couples Decide On Sterilization

In the trend toward limiting the size of families in the United States, an increasing number of couples are choosing sterilization as a means of birth control. Fertility studies show that at least one couple in six in the main child-bearing years-ages 20 to 39-has had an operation.

The latest national figures were compiled in 1970, but on the basis of regional studies, specialists say the upward trend is continuing, although at what appears to be a decreasing rate. The Association for Voluntary Sterilization estimates that in 1973, about 350,000 women and perhaps 500,000 men were sterilized. Virtually all the operations are regarded as irreversible.

Most of -the operations are performed on adults, and the majority of these involve couples that already have children. Only between 2,000 and 3,000 operations a year are performed on persons under 21 and fewer than 300 on persons under 18.

The apparent reason for the increase in sterilizations, specialists say, is that more people, either for personal purposes or because of concern about overpopulation, simply want to limit their children or avoid having them entirely-and consider sterilization a sure way of

doing so.