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

I think it depends on the area but in my area you've got zero change of getting it done if you've no gynae problems and are young. Its not good for personal choice but the system just can't cope with the demand unfortunately. I dont remember ever getting an elective patient that had one done because of not wanting to be fertile anymore so young. My mum can't get hers done despite blood clotting issues.

Is there any chance you could go private if your area is the same?

Well every day’s a school day and I was not asserting a fact. I was engaging in conversation by asking asking a question.

I doubt the worry of a potential pregnancy is going her much good either

then the implant would be worth a try as it has a failure rate lower than that of sterilisation

The repeat appointments which are required for a prescription of the pill probably take up more time than what I suggested

once a year with a nurse for the pill, once every 3y for the implant and every 5-10 for the coil

Have you looked into effects long term effects early menopause?

???? Being sterilised doesn't put you in to the menopause!!

I asked at 25 , GP said no , very patronising and rude.

I doubt you'd get it on the NHS , maybe privately ?

Good advice from PP, to have a look at if sterilisation is often funded in your area and if so, speak to your GP.
If private is an option I don’t think you’d have a problem finding a willing surgeon if you’re absolutely certain of your decision.

FWIW I was sterilised at 31 and completely bypassed my GP; I was having an ovarian cyst removed a few months after having my third baby, asked the surgeon on the morning of the procedure and he didn’t bat an eyelid. I feel so much better off hormonal contraceptives.

Thanks all. Just to clear a few things up, I don't want the coil as I got pregnant and miscarried on it, and the implant makes my periods extremely irregular and heavy. I have tried so many different pills etc and I'm just fed up.

I have no idea how much it would be to pay private but I could look into that.

It's about 3-5k when I last looked

Holy shit. I'm only on 20k a year so not exactly a high earner , will probably take me years to save that !!

I was you 5 years ago. Asked my doctor to sterilise me but was told I was too young!

I am, however, glad he refused. I'm TTC number 2 now!

I had it done at 29 but I had four kids. Early menopause is rare, though I do have heavier, more painful periods which I've had confirmed is a side effect of being sterilized.

It's hard to get them to pay for it. The other concern is situations change, you have 20 years of potential childbearing years, if you split from your partner you may feel differently. I'm seriously considering having another child (if i still can) despite 16 years ago saying never again

I was sterilised aged 30 and had it reversed
A few years later It doesn’t cause menopause as I had another baby !

Menopause? She's being sterilised, not spayed!