In reading the literature on family planning among Puerto Ricans one is struck by the paucity of studies of the decisionmaking process behind the choices for controlling reproduction as well as by the almost exclusive focus on the lower end of the social class spectrum. Indeed, some of the more recent work to come out in this field has begun to point to this lacunae in our knowledge (Gonzalez, et al., 1980). This study proposes to begin to fill this gap by comparatively examining the multiple variables that play a role in the decisions made around family planning by mainland Puerto Ricans of both low and middle class backgrounds. Special emphasis will be given to sterilization, since it seems to be the most common contraceptive method of both island and mainland Puerto Ricans (Stycos, 1955; Scrimshaw et al., 1971).