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Abstract: An estimated 2,300,000 women in the United States underwent tubal sterilizations in 19701975. During this period the rate of tubal sterilizations per 1.000 women 15-44 years of age rose from 4.7 to 11.7. We studied the influence on sterilization trends of four demographic variables: age. region of residence. race. and marital status. Women 25-34 years of age were twice as likely to be sterilized as older or younger women. Rates were about 40 per ¢ lower in the West than in the rest of the country. In 1970 rates for non-white women were double those for Whites. Rates for Whites rose faster than those for non-Whites, how ever, and by 1975 the rates were similar for the 2 races. Non-Whites still tended to be sterilized about one year younger than Whites. and marked regional differences existed in the race-specific rate trends. Rates rose more sharply for previously married women than for currently married women: by 1975 rates for these two groups were similar. Never married women had rates about 1/7 of those of currently married and previously married women. Among the never married, tubal sterilization rates for non-Whites were nine times higher than those for Whites. (Am J Public Health 1980: 70:808-812.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]