From 1970-2008, two major inflection points occurred in U.S. female sterilization rates – but only one had a lasting impact

In the aftermath of Relf v. Weinberger, the female sterilization rates dropped but quickly recovered and continued their upward trajectory. But once the U.S. policy on after-birth care changed in 1992, the rate dropped and didn't bounce back. The rate in the control country, by contrast, remained steady even after 1992.