While waiting for sterilization at the Department of Gynaecology, University Hospital of Trondheim (Regionsykehuset), 687 women were sent a questionnaire by mail concerning the experience of waiting for surgery. At the time of asking, about 30% of the women did not need the surgery they were scheduled for. The expected waiting time has increased in recent years and is now more than two years. During the waiting period 22 women became pregnant. 15 of these pregnancies were terminated by induced abortion. The conception rate was highest during the first year on the waiting list. In order to prevent unplanned pregnancies, the capacity for sterilization must be increased until the waiting time is less than three months.