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.

I presume You can watch a clip sterilisation on YouTube to see how quick and easy it is.

I requested the surgery a few weeks after turning 24 (2dc) and had the surgery 2 months after turning 25.

GP referred me straight away, but took around a year to get through consultants and pre-op, at all stages I had to articulate my decision and stick firm about it.

Recovery took about 3 days, as a bonus my periods are now regular as clockwork and light, lasting about 4 days.

Good luck, I hope you manage to get the outcome you desire. I know some GPs are funny anout referrals etc..

Sorry if it’s been covered already, what exactly are the effects of sterilisation (other than not getting pregnant obv) does it make you go into menopause? Does it affect your periods or hormones? Very interested also as hormonal contraceptives are a nightmare for me

Sorry if it’s been covered already, what exactly are the effects of sterilisation (other than not getting pregnant obv) does it make you go into menopause? Does it affect your periods or hormones? Very interested also as hormonal contraceptives are a nightmare for me

No it doesn't have any effect on your periods. Obviously if your periods have been altered by hormonal contraceptives then they may be different after sterilization as you won't be taking additional hormones anymore. Mine are better but others may find theirs are worse.

It also had no effect on the menopause but at least you know when you are hitting it rather than having no idea if you are on the OC pill when you get a break through bleed no matter what.

The key benefit is no pregnancy.

I had it done at 27 with 2 dc
No pain or problems with it and other than being asked are you sure once by my gp and once by my surgeon no one tried to talk me out of it or suggest any alternative
My neighbour's got 5 dc is 34 and can't get it.
Oh and you wonder how I got it when she can't? I have a female gp and female surgeon my neighbour's are both men.
So if you're wanting it make sure you see a female doctor and ask for a referral to a female surgeon

I was around 32 I think?!?. I had two children and the doctor had no qualms. The consultant asked me a few questions and a few months later I had it done. It was done by keyhole surgery with clips. I was in there all day and they wanted to keep me overnight as I vomit an awful lot after anaesthesia. I refused and they sent me home with about 4 cardboard vomit bowls for the car journey!

@hermionekipper it didn't make it any worse than recovery from my first section, if anything it seemed easier

It's amazing how this differs depending on where you live. I had my third DC when I was 30 by ELCS and at every appointment at the hospital I was asked if I wanted to be sterilised whilst having the C section. Although I'm fairly sure we won't have anymore DC I felt too young to make that decision and definitely say never again. I was even asked the morning of by the doctor performing the c section which felt wrong when I had made it clear that wasn't what I wanted. It's almost as if they saw I was going to have 3 DC aged three and under and thought she needs stoping!

I paid privately to have my tubes tied