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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Getting pregnant at age 47, chance is so negligible that I don't need to bother with the Map?

246 replies

TooOldForAllThatShit · 15/06/2019 18:12

DH and I had a quickie this AM. Condom was empty but he definitely orgasmed. It was stuck inside me Blush so he thinks the contents tipped out.

My super market chemist has run out of the morning after pill and the nearest one is a 15 minute drive away. I cba to go and spend £35 for nothing really and I'm exhausted after a 6 mile walk. I've also been on quite strong antibiotics for the last two weeks so not sure it will even work?

AIBU to think I don't need to worry too much at my age. DH is 50. We have 4 DC already. My periods are spacing further apart which indicates menopause approaching.

WWYD?

OP posts:
SinkGirl · 16/06/2019 11:40

I’m all for individuals making their own choices but under what circumstances could a tubal ligation ever be quicker and easier than a vasectomy?

If my DH dared to bring up the risk of chronic pain after the 25 years of pain, life ruining drug side effects, surgeries and everything else I’ve endured to preserve my fertility and have our kids, he wouldn’t get a good response.

hopefulhalf · 16/06/2019 11:46

But sink I haven't had any of that, so why shouldn't my DH (and me tbh) have a look and say "hmm 10% chance of chronic testicular pain- no thanks" ?

DecomposingComposers · 16/06/2019 11:49

SinkGirl

But why did you endure that for 25 years? Was it only because your husband wanted it or was it something that you wanted to do?

I wanted children. I had pre eclampsia twice and was seriously ill. But both times it was entirely my choice, so I can't blame my husband for me going through that or then expect him to have surgery because "look at what I went through". I went through it because it was what I wanted to do. Why does he now owe me?

Sceptre86 · 16/06/2019 12:00

The odds are low but depends if you are a betting women. Don't know if I would chance it at your age. You shouldn't have to pay for it if they do the morning after pill as a service at the chemist, just some questions to make sure it is suitable for you.

RedPink · 16/06/2019 12:09

Female sterilisation can be done with local anaesthetic - mine was keyhole surgery through my belly button. I was told it takes 8 minutes. I waited a couple of hours and went home. I don't know how long a vasectomy takes but I can't imagine it takes long either.
I don't know how typical my sterilisation was but mine was almost pain free afterwards. It was a very very minor thing for me to have. I've had much worse fillings at the dentist 🤷🏻‍♀️

SinkGirl · 16/06/2019 14:37

Who said owes? Who said the pain and surgeries were his fault?

The point is that it’s his fucking turn. I’ve had to carry the significant burden of contraception, pregnancy and birth because biology. This is one thing he can do to contribute to that and if he balked at it I’d be extremely displeased.

I refuse to put myself through yet another invasive surgery when he could have a very quick procedure to sort it out. Fortunately I don’t need to argue for this because, having seen what I’ve been through, he insists on being the one to do it.

I am absolutely astounded at the dismissive way tubal ligation is being discussed here - tell that to the women with post tubal ligation Syndrome (tubal.org/symptoms-of-pts.htm), another women’s health scandal waiting to happen because - yet again - no one listens to these women or gives a shit. Very limited research has been done yet reports are consistent, and some of these women have been fighting for information for two decades.

Every abdominal surgery comes with a much higher than 1 in 10 risk of adhesions which can cause not just chronic pelvic pain but can affect bowel and bladder function. 93% of patients undergoing abdominal surgery develop adhesions according to one source (www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/abdominal-adhesions).

I know exactly what a laparoscopic surgery involves thanks, I’ve had seven. And you can’t do a tubal ligation under local - you can do it under a spinal block which is very different to having a small amount of local injected into your genitals (speaking from experience of both). Spinal blocks themselves come with risks, as does GA of course. The fact that you’d call it a “local” demonstrates that you’re being disingenous. It took 45 minutes and 14 injections in my back to place the one spinal I’ve had, which caused permanent nerve damage.

If you breezed through laparoscopic surgery, perhaps a very small incision in your DH’s scrotum would have been even easier?

You simply cannot compare the two procedures whatsoever, let alone say that TL is quicker and easier than vasectomy unless there’s some massive medication mitigating factors.

So while it’s up to individuals in their relationship to do what’s best for them, I am saddened by some of these responses - we are so conditioned to putting up with my symptoms / side effects and issues relating to our fertility that some of us think it’s easier for us to have risky invasive abdominal surgery than for our partners to have a far less invasive procedure as an outpatient.

tuxedocatsintophats · 16/06/2019 15:09

Red I have friends who had tubal ligations and they all found it hurt like hell due to the gas used to inflate their abdomens. The other issue is that among its possible complications is increased risk of ectopic pregnancy, from which you can die. Lots of trusts no longer fund them, either, as they're more expensive than coils or vasectomies.

RedPink · 16/06/2019 17:29

tuxedocatsintophats. I get that not everyone would have such a trouble free experience as I did and that you can never know beforehand how it’s going to go. I just know that I was delighted with how it went for me. I guess it’s a few thousand pounds if done privately.

SinkGirl · 16/06/2019 17:31

The gas pain from laparoscopies can be excruciating. Each one I’ve had the gas pain is worse and lasts longer (about six days after the last one), plus more adhesions to deal with.

So many women online stating that since their TL they’ve developed endometriosis, chronic pelvic pain, hormonal imbalance, loss of libido, irregular periods, more painful periods, early menopause... it seems that disruption of the blood supply to the ovaries is responsible but again there’s not enough research.

Densol999 · 16/06/2019 17:42

Youve scared me know OP! Grin Im 54 this year and look and feel very young. My coil came out in April and Ive not bothered with anything. Ive just suggested to my partner about having a snip xx

tuxedocatsintophats · 16/06/2019 18:20

Yes, it's 'a few thousand pounds' if done privately, hardly nothing, hence, it can now be impossible on the NHS as plenty of trusts no longer fund female sterilisation.

JacquesHammer · 16/06/2019 18:29

Yes, it's 'a few thousand pounds' if done privately, hardly nothing, hence, it can now be impossible on the NHS as plenty of trusts no longer fund female sterilisation

Of course, because female health is so low down the list of priorities.

tuxedocatsintophats · 16/06/2019 18:34

True, Jacques. They just tell women to use the coil.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 16/06/2019 18:50

Even in the deepest part of your subconscious you must want another child, otherwise. You'd be taking zero risks.

Meccacos · 16/06/2019 20:03

I got pregnant at 38, whilst I was on the pill, following years of only having periods 4 times a year, at a time when I was very very sick following multiple surgeries and various vitamin deficiencies.

Basically, I’m chronically ill and my family describes me as frail.

It wasn’t meant to happen. It still happened. It can happen to you. You should be on the pill or have an IUD.

Meccacos · 16/06/2019 20:05

@SinkGirl

I asked my surgeons to make sure they got all the gas out of my abdomen before they closed me up. That was my only concern. Not bleeding to death on the table but to make sure I wasn’t in agony afterwards because they were too lazy to deflate me.

I never had a problem.

Kokeshi123 · 17/06/2019 01:38

I’m all for individuals making their own choices but under what circumstances could a tubal ligation ever be quicker and easier than a vasectomy?

Well, if you are having surgery anyway, for a start. Most women with TL that I know had one during a planned cesarean. I suspect it can also be done if you are having other surgery too--like having cysts removed, though I don't know this for sure.

chardonm · 17/06/2019 02:13

Where are you in your cycle? I think chances are more than slim, i would risk it personally.

HennyPennyHorror · 17/06/2019 02:56

Ooh no. I'm 47 and would not risk it! IT can happen! I couldn't cope if I got up the duff...I couldn't abort either...so that'd be my old age buggered!

SinkGirl · 17/06/2019 09:36

That’s a very different scenario - if you’re having surgery anyway that’s a different story, although you still run the risk of disrupting the blood supply to the ovaries (assuming that assumption about the cause of the issues is correct) and having ongoing problems.

Miranda567812 · 17/06/2019 16:30

Quite interesting statistics in here & also some MAP are effective for up to 5 days: www.mymorningafter.co.uk/askella/2019/3/5/askella-how-effective-is-the-morning-after-pill

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