Has anyone (female) been sterilised recently?

[Florencenotflo]

A couple of questions really! I know it will vary by area and possibly even by doctor but I'm booked to see my gp in a couple of weeks and wanted to ask a few questions if you've been sterilised recently:

• how old were you?
• how many children you had?
• did they try and persuade you to try other option first? (Such as a coil).

Worried that I'll go and be told I'm either too young (nearly 30) or I need to try another long term form of contraception first.

Haven't been sterilized but have been requesting tubal ligation for the last 7 to 8 years. I'm 31, have one DS and have seen the gynecologist every year and every year he refuses me and I leave the clinic crying. He won't consider me until I'm at least 35, says I might 'meet the right man and change my mind'. FFS!!! hormonal contraceptives have an awful effect on me and I'm 110% sure I never want any more children.

It's incredibly upsetting that I don't have the right to make an educated and responsible decision for my body and my future but I'm based in Ireland so it's not surprising.

I am literally just laying on the sofa from being sterilised 3 hours ago.

I am 26, 1 child and yes, even today, they were offering the coil as an alternative.

I'm planning to ask for this too. I'm 37 with 2 children though. Wondering what the recovery is like.

Yes but went privately.

45 with no children. Briefly discussed other options but I said I wasn't happy to try any of them and the subject wasn't pushed.

I was sterilised at 36 whilst having a planned c section for my 2nd child. There were other factors though, I'm chronic depressive, didn't think I'd ever have kids due to medications I'm on but changed meds and on a decreased dose under management of consultant had 1st at 34, then 2nd at 36, took a lot of planning though. Plus the first labour ended up with failed ventouse and emergency c section, which left me with a prolapse, hence planned section with 2nd labour. I was adamant I didn't want anymore so they agreed to do it, I suggested they did it at same time as section. Even in theatre (as I was awake as had epidural) they were questioning was I sure it's what I wanted, had I thought about the coil etc.

I was in surgery for around an hour. I have 2 small incisions - belly button and one to the right. I was uncomfortable when I woke up so they gave me some pain relief. Spent about an hour in recovery. They gave me a hot drink, toast and let me go once I had passed urine.

In some discomfort at the moment, nothing unbearable. The surgical stockings are the worst bit at the moment giving me cramp.

My wounds feel tender and I feel a bit shaky all over.

Sorry for the garbled post. Think I am still coming around a bit.

I had mine done at 29 with 3 children they called me the day after it was done to say they were no longer funding it in my area. That was 7 years ago so I think alot of places have stopped finding it.

I was 30 with four kids and had just had a pregnancy scare. Thought I was pregnant and realised I really really didn't want to be so decided on sterilisation. Loved the fact it was instantaneous. It was a really minor op for me. I had it done with a very short general anesthetic. I didn't need any other pain relief other than whatever they gave me during the op. It felt like period pain but not bad period pain.

Drs were more than happy to do it. No one suggested waiting.

I was delighted I had it done.

This feels very timely as I really want it done. I have a 3 year old and due twins in December. I definitely don’t want any more children and the idea of being pregnant again makes me feel ill. I asked about it at a consultant appointment and they tried to talk me out of it big time - suggesting the implant and the coil despite me saying I don’t want any more hormonal contraception. I want them to do it at the same time as a c-section (which they also don’t want to give me!) Does anyone know if it makes c-section recovery any worse?

I had tubal ligation last year and am awaiting a full hysterectomy (ligation worked - ablation didnt).

I'm 45 with no children. It was a massive uphill struggle to get it done and if I had a pound for every time somebody mentioned the coil I would be able to afford to wipe my arse on 20's...

I've just had a planned c section 8 weeks ago! DH was going to have a vasectomy but after discussing it he's not sure 100% that's what he wants. We both agree that we don't want any more children but I've been very clear with him that I wouldn't be able to have a termination. We'd have to make it work. Hence me wanting to sort out something more permanent ASAP!

Hormonal contraception isn't great for me, it affects my moods horrendously and the implant made me so low in mood it was unbearable. Even DH asked me not to have it again. I don't want the coil, I know it works for some but it's just not for me.

I'm prepared to fight for it but I know it's what is right for me.

@OnlyCrumbsLeft I know it's cheeky but would you pm me roughly how much it costs privately? Don't worry if you aren't comfortable doing that.

I didn't know that it wasn't even funded in some areas, but private may be an option if the waiting time is quite long. Or it may be the only option if they don't fund it!

I was supposed to be sterilised with a planned section with DC2. Unfortunately he ended up being premature and an EMCS so they wouldn't do it.

I went to the drs a couple of months ago to be referred. Got offered the coil but was adamant I don't want anything hormonal. She also suggested DH have the snip, which he wasn't keen on but has now agreed to so I've cancelled the referral. I'm 35 with 2 DC, I was 33 when the originally agreed to do it as any further pregnancies would be too risky for me.

Your husband is obviously within his rights to do or not do whatever he wants, but after everything you have gone through to bring your children into the world, a vasectomy doesn't seem like a big ask. Maybe it's his turn to make a sacrifice.

To add, I had my tubes tied at 27, 20 years ago after 2 children. I absolutely wanted me to be the one to be steralised, and I have never regretted it. I went private.

Not recently, but I was sterilised at 30, with an only child.
I'm almost 42 now, I've absolutely no regrets.

I was sterelised 18 months ago during a planned c section, I was 31, 2 children and they didn't try and persuade me to try anything els, after delivering dd the surgeon popped her head up and double checked I still wanted it, and that was that.
so glad I had it done

I do get that side of the argument @Aquamarine1029 and he isn't saying never, just not right now. He's happy to continue using condoms as he knows I don't particularly like hormonal contraceptives. Unfortunately for men condoms or vasectomy are the only options.

I've considered getting sterilised as I definitely don't want more children and neither does DP. He would get a vasectomy but is nervous about it. I'd like to come off the pill as it's messing with my cycle.

I take it it doesn't stop periods though? And the clips can fall off can't they? That does worry me.

Good luck with speaking to your GP. I hope you have more luck than I've had with mine. Mine won't refer until you are 40.

Even though I have 6 kids (5 biological and Dss) including the youngest who was conceived while I had the coil, has major health issues and who I went twice to terminate (but a staffer, now thankfully no longer there after my complaint, showed me the scan screen after I asked her not too).

Same GP surgery tried about five different avenues to get DH a vasectomy when he asked (nowhere will do it as he has serious clotting issues). Like night and day in attitude.

No idea how to PM on the app but happy to give the cost here.

With consultation, surgery and follow up it was £2500.

I could have had it done on the NHS with the same surgeon but the waiting list was several months and I needed to time the operation due to work and other commitments so we decided to pay. I just wish I had done it years before as I feel so much better now I am off the OC pill and my periods are lighter and more spaced out but I guess that might be due to my age.

Btw I didn't involve my GP at all as I self referred for a consultation direct to a private hospital. I would have had to get a GP referral if I had decided to swop to his NHS list but didn't need to for his private one.

take it it doesn't stop periods though? And the clips can fall off can't they? That does worry me.

Periods don't stop.

On the clips side my surgeon said they now had research to suggest the Fallopian tubes were involved in ovarian cancer and the originator of many cases. He therefore recommended removing rather than clipping them which I went ahead with. Less likely of any failure with no tubes.

I had three key hole scars and it took 1 week for me to feel pain free even with codeine and paracetamol and another week before I could drive. I was back at work after two weeks but it was a third week before I was back to full strength exercise wise.

I was sterilized 12 years ago, a year after having my second child-I was 31. I can't tell you about funding or anything else nhs related as I had it done abroad. It was done as outpatient keyhole surgery, and there was little pain afterwards (maybe period like cramps) having said that, I was running around after a 3 year old and a 1 year old so I didn't have time to worry about pain unless it was a broken leg or something lol.

That's awful@lyralalala you would think after everything you've been through, you could be trusted to make an informed decision!

Thank you @OnlyCrumbsLeft something to think about if the gp isn't keen.

Just remembered something else. You only typically have two key hole entry points if your tubes are clipped but need three if the tubes are removed.

I was warned quite strongly from the consultant that I needed at least 2 weeks of rest and definitely no driving (if I had any pain and couldn't hit the brake hard in an emergency it would have affected my insurance). I think by having the tubes removed the operation went from a 10-15 min one to a 30-45 min one which might have explained the ripping pain I felt for the first few days if I moved in the wrong way. I certainly wouldn't have been able to chase or pick up a toddler. However, knowing that my chances of getting ovarian cancer are reduced I was more than happy to have the tubes removed.