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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


     Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

         Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 21, 2002




                           THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC.

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                                       
          Delaware                       1-8597                         94-2657368
(State or other jurisdiction    (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer Identification No.)
     of incorporation)


        6140 Stoneridge Mall Road, Suite 590, Pleasanton, California 94588
                      (Address of principal executive offices)

                                 (925) 460-3600
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)



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ITEM 5.  Other Events.

On May 21, 2002, The Cooper Companies, Inc. (the "Company") issued a press
release reporting that its CooperSurgical unit had acquired Ackrad Laboratories,
Inc. A copy of this release is attached and incorporated by reference.

Internet addresses in the release are for information purposes only and are not
intended to be hyperlinks to other Cooper Companies information.


ITEM 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c) Exhibits.



Exhibit
  No.             Description
-------           -----------
               
99.1              Press Release dated May 21, 2002 of The Cooper Companies, Inc.









                                    SIGNATURE


Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                         THE COOPER COMPANIES, INC.


                                         By   /s/ Stephen C. Whiteford
                                            ------------------------------------
                                              Stephen C. Whiteford
                                              Vice President and
                                              Corporate Controller
                                              (Principal Accounting Officer)

Dated:  May 22, 2002







                                  EXHIBIT INDEX




Exhibit                                                                 Sequentially
  No.             Description                                           Numbered Page
-------           -----------                                           -------------
                                                                 
99.1              Press Release dated May 21, 2002 of The Cooper
                  Companies, Inc.