Can I be sterilised?

[Kittykat93]

I am 26 years old with one child. I am absolutely positive I do not want any more children, my son is my world and I love him to bits, but pregnancy, birth and motherhood have all been an immense strain on both my mental and physical health, so I will not be doing it again.

Can I go to my gp and ask for sterilisation? I'm currently on the pill but would be nice to come off contraceptives. I am aware though with my age I may not be allowed.

Any advice would be fab

Have you looked into effects long term effects early menopause?

I don’t think they would agree to it although I may be wrong, you can always ask.

You are still of an age where you have over a decade to potentially change your mind. I’m not saying you will at all but if you ever did, you would regret this decision and doctors have to bear that in mind.

I would consider a long term contraceptive such as the copper coil before jumping into sterilisation.

Yout would probably be recommended something like the coil or implant or depo first

Funily enough I've been asking myself the same question lately. I'm 30, no kids, have always known I didn't want children. Been on the pill since 21 and just came off it this week due to side effects setting in (headaches and withdrawel bleed coming later and later the past few times ect). Decided to give my body a break but it's a big choice as it means...sacrificing my freedom (more the thought of it than anything else as im single atm).

Anyway, I'd like to get my tubes tied. But it's a thought. I'm also worried of going to the docs and them saying I might change my mind (LOL) so they won't. But for me...it isn't a choice, it's something I just know, always have. I don't know if they'd 'get' it though. And for you, the fact that you are 'only young' might be brought up.

I've heard being over thirty with kids makes them more likely to 'ok' it. So we may both have a struggle ahead if we try. God forbid we women ACTUALLY know our own minds of course xD

Have you looked into effects long term effects early menopause?

Having your tubes clipped doesn’t cause the menopause.

They let me at 30 with one child, I'm 41 now, Dd is almost 18 and I've never regretted it.

Of course you can go and ask your GP. However don't get your hopes up as I highly doubt they'll agree to it for a good few years yet. No harm in having a chat about it with a doctor though.

Have you looked into effects long term effects early menopause?

You really need to educate yourself before spreading such inaccurate information.

Thanks everyone. As far as I'm aware it will not affect menopause whoever suggested that.

I may bring it up with the gp, fully expect to get told to wait a few years though!!

I think you will struggle they will just suggest long term contraception e.g. Coil or implant.

I have just had dd. My first live baby. Had placenta previa and placenta was attached very deep. Have had to meet with consultant afterwards who went through what happened and how it would affect any future pregnancy - basically looking at hysterectomy at birth and even I was told sterilisation wasn't an option.

You can go private.

The question is whether the NHS will pay for it, you can do it privately if you want. I would google your CCG and 'sterilisation' and you will find their policy. Here is an example - it doesn't have an age limit www.miltonkeynesccg.nhs.uk/female-sterilisation/

I don't thnk it causes early menopause i was sterrilised at 28 I requested due to my medical condition and I had no early menopause symptoms. Op you can ask but they will probably offer long term contraceptives instead

Have you looked into effects long term effects early menopause?

@99calmbeforethestorm what nonsense!

I was sterilised aged 24 because i fell pregnant with my 2nd DD while on the pill, didn't want to risk it happening again, i only ever wanted one child to, getting sterilised doesn't bring on early menopause i went through it at 45.

Sterilised at 32 here. Took some persuading but bloody glad I got sterilised when I did. Have not regretted it once.

They agreed to mine as I got pg for the third time with a mirena coil, second pg I was on the pill (miscarried second, chose not to continue with third).
I think I'm premenopausal now, but that's ok, I started my periods at 10, and I'm not sure why I'd be bothered by early menopause anyway?

Currently not sterilised despite pushing since 2014.

YADNBU to request it but it may be you have to go private if you can afford it.

I was sterilised at 28 just after they delivered DC2 by ECS, a sort of BOGOF operation deal
I needed a hysterectomy 5 years later which my Consultant was happy to perform due to the sterilisation.

BTW @Kittykat93 do you realise that female sterilisation has a much higher failure rate than things like the implant?

Go ask your GP, they will probably say no but then at least it’s on record, so you keep asking every 6 months or so, and hopefully in a few years they’ll agree.

Or pay to go private.

Go ask your GP, they will probably say no but then at least it’s on record, so you keep asking every 6 months or so, and hopefully in a few years they’ll agree.

what a fantastic use of GP appointments. How about the OP finds out what the local CCG policy is and then acts accordingly?

Not helpful when 99calm posts twatty factually incorrect advice!

Think GP will try and persuade OP that she's too young.

Best thing I ever did, but was after Ds2, was mid 30's with a medical condition, so it was actually recommended.

Oh give over, the OP has explained how birth and motherhood has taken an immense strain on her physical and mental health. I doubt the worry of a potential pregnancy is going her much good either. The repeat appointments which are required for a prescription of the pill probably take up more time than what I suggested.

I think at your age and with only one child you will have a battle on your hands and you will also need to provide good reasons why you can not use other contraceptives.