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Original poster

Female Sterilisation

40 replies

rockpaperscissorselephant · 20/05/2019 15:55

Hello all,

I am a regular but name changed so as not to link this very personal post to my account.

I am 32. My husband and I have been together 15 years, married 7 and have a 4.5year old.

At 16 I was dead cert on wanting to be sterilised. Due to other medical conditions I have, I was told at 16 that I may not be able to have children and would need tests when the appropriate time came. I met my husband at 17. When things got serious, I told him my situation and he didn't mind and said if we couldnt have children, we would foster or adopt.

I had my son aged 27. He was planned, wanted and is loved. I suffered with terrible anxiety during my pregnancy and spent the latter trimester in and out of MAU. I had suffered with depression from approximately 19 and in hindsight also believe I suffered from PND which wasn't picked up by my GP.

We haven't had any unwanted pregnancies or scares in our relationship. We always said, even via adoption or otherwise, we only wanted 1 child.

Currently I am suffering some issues related to my gubbins and for a short time was concerned I may actually be pregnant. I am not.

We have discussed again and I have asked to be referred for sterilisation.

Whilst I know it's less invasive for him, and less change of failing (1 in 2,000 male sterilisation fails vs 1 in 200 female), in my own mind, rightly or wrongly, if I don't want to be pregnant, I will undergo the treatment.

My GP, knowing my history and my mental health history too has referred me without any qualms.

I suppose my question is, if you have undergone female sterilisation, did they remove your tubes, or just clamp?

What was your recovery time? Did you go back to work quickly, or driving?

Was it a day surgery?

I am reading all the facts and methods etc but it would be interesting to hear from people who have been through the procedure.

OP posts:
goose1964 · 20/05/2019 15:59

I was clamped, it was done as a day case. The worst bit for me was the bruising afterwards where they distended the abdomen. I do bruise easily though.

kimlo · 20/05/2019 15:59

It was day surgery, I was out within a couple if hours. It took 2 weeks to be back at work and about another week on top of that to be back to 100%.

It was just a clamp.

goose1964 · 20/05/2019 16:00

Forgot to say that I was on mat leave at the time but I probably would have needed a couple of days off

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Women's health
Original poster
rockpaperscissorselephant · 20/05/2019 16:01

Thank you for your replies and no judgement for me wanting it and not insisting my husband has the snip instead.

May I also ask, and I know that it varies, but what was the waiting time? Did you receive any counselling beforehand?

OP posts:
kimlo · 20/05/2019 16:05

no counselling before hand. They just asked me why I wanted it (done with babies), what would I do if my partner and I split and I met someone else (still done with babies), what if one of my children died ( still done with babies).

Waiting time was a couple of weeks for the referal to go through and to be put on the list, then about 4 months after that.

They did say on the day I was young to be having it done, but that it had been put on my notes that I was very sure.

kimlo · 20/05/2019 16:08

and they tried to talk me in to a coil, O just said no. And they offered the other type of steralisation that can be done when you are awake. Luckily I had researched and knew that their are a few legal cases about that and it's side affects.

Original poster
rockpaperscissorselephant · 20/05/2019 16:09

Thanks again kimlo

I can agree that I am not wanting anymore children. My son is my world but my god did he turn it inside out and upside down when he entered it.

OP posts:
Socksontheradiator · 20/05/2019 16:11

Clamped here too. No disagreement from my GO but the consultant asked me if my husband minded Shock
Day surgery (2minor incisions) general anaesthetic made me very sick though, so was kept overnight. Felt like I'd been hit by a truck, but it passed quickly and back in action after a week I think. 20 or so years ago now.

Socksontheradiator · 20/05/2019 16:12

Gp! Bloody kindle!

happyhillock · 20/05/2019 16:14

I was clamped in and out the same day, was off work for for 8 day's

kimlo · 20/05/2019 16:14

If you are sure you don't want more then it's worth the hassle for the peace of mind.

Original poster
rockpaperscissorselephant · 20/05/2019 16:17

Thanks again Socks

I was fortunate that my GP is excellent. She used to run the FPC at our clinic and is very pro contraception... in fact, "sold" to me the idea of the depo jab when she herself was pregnant as she said she'd been on it and it worked when she wanted it to and didnt work when she wanted to fall pregnant (if that makes sense).

She also advised me to come off the depo 6 months before we wanted to conceieve and go onto the pill then come off when I wanted to. I fell pregnant within 4 weeks.

Trying to find information online to give myself enough knowledge to make the decision.

Now that I know it's potential and not a pipe dream, it's a little scarier

OP posts:
Original poster
rockpaperscissorselephant · 20/05/2019 16:17

I can happily and safely say I don't want any more children.

In fact, I don't like children. Only a selected few.

OP posts:
Undies1990 · 20/05/2019 16:19

I was clamped during an unrelated gyne op. I was asked if I was absolutely sure that I didn't want any more children, they told me it was irreversible etc and then they gave me about a week to think about it (even though I had already made up my mind). The consultant made my husband to sign a form to say he was aware that the procedure was going to take place and that he was happy for it to go ahead - I was rather surprised but they wouldn't do it without his consent!
Recovery after the op was about 2 weeks but that's because I had something else done at the same time. I think just being clamped is a fairly quick recovery. Good luck with it, you'll be fine.

Undies1990 · 20/05/2019 16:20

I was 30 at the time, fairly young - maybe that's why they wanted my husband to sign the paperwork!

Original poster
rockpaperscissorselephant · 20/05/2019 16:21

How bizzare a few of you mention the medics speaking to/of your husbands.... 0_o

OP posts:
Original poster
rockpaperscissorselephant · 20/05/2019 16:21

And, do any of you know if you can continue to take contraceptives afterwards? To stop periods?

OP posts:
kimlo · 20/05/2019 16:23

my dp didn't get talked to, they didn't even ask if he knew never mind minded, and he didn't come to the appoinments. Maybe because we aren't married. I was expecting them to after a friend had to sign something when her husband had a vesectomy.

Original poster
rockpaperscissorselephant · 20/05/2019 16:25

Really appreciate you all taking the time to reply.

OP posts:
crochetandshit · 20/05/2019 16:32

Hi op, I was clamped as a day case. I needed nearly 2 weeks off work but I was a waitress at the time in a very busy establishment where the plates were ridiculously heavy even if empty.

I was asked the same questions as a pp re relationship breakdown or the loss of a child.

I take the pill still to help with my skin, I just have to pay for it as I'm not using it as contraception.

VeryLittleOwl · 20/05/2019 20:10

My experience was 15 years ago, so not sure how relevant, but I had clamps, I was supposed to be a day case but they found something unexpected they wanted to investigate further so I was kept under for a lot longer than normal and so they kept me in overnight to make sure I was okay. The op was a Thursday, I had Friday off and went back to work on the Monday (office job, nothing strenuous). Didn't have a car at the time, so can't answer about the driving, but if I could negotiate central London on the Tube at rush hour, I reckon I was probably okay to drive! No issues at all in the subsequent 15 years, though a friend had it done and the incision got quite badly infected, but I think she ignored the advice about not soaking in the bath until it was healed.

Chesntoots · 20/05/2019 21:00

I had mine clamped. Took two weeks off and back phased return (physically demanding job). I had an endometrial ablation at the same time.

Took me bloody 20 years to get it done though! Don't have kids and never ever wanted them so had to spend years trying to convince doctors that I did actually have a mind of my own...

AllStar14 · 20/05/2019 21:10

I had mine done on Friday. I was in a lot of pain for the first few hours and needed to spend the following day in bed. Feeling OK today, I am bruised and a bit sore still but I drove today and was fine. Going back to work on Wednesday!

MrsPear · 20/05/2019 21:38

I was clamped.
One thing I would say is that no contraception is 100% I was the 1 in 200 who still fell pregnant as is usual it was ectopic and I had both tubes removed. So if you go through with it and miss a period do not ignore and test to be safe. An ectopic can kill so do not bury your head in the sand. Would I still be sterilised? Yes because I didn’t want hormones, wasn’t suitable for copper coil, hate condoms (necessary evil if dating but I’m not) and as I have problems not h it wouldn’t be fair on him to have the snip. As we were married he was to questioned by the gp but not the hospital as his agreeing was logged.

SqueekyNuts · 20/05/2019 21:44

Ironically I am lying in hospital right now recovering from sterilization. They removed my Fallopian tubes as they find that it rescues the risk of ovarian cancer later and as it happens they were scared from endometriosis which I didn't know I had.

Can't comment on the recovery yet but they did want me to stay overnight and glad I did because I am not sure I am up to going home yet.

No issues getting it done as I am older than you and have never wanted children but I did pay privately as I wanted to pick the dates.