To ask for your experience with female sterilisation?

[OhForForksSake]

Just that really. I am considering sterilisation but, on the surface level, there seem to be very few reports of negative side effects. Is that really the case? Has it changed anything about your period and/or ovulation pain?

What have you experiences been? All the negative side effects seem to be linked to ectopic pregnancies and the tubes potentially re-joining. Plus the usual risk associated with surgery. In short, it sounds a little too good to be true.

(Please spare me the talk about alternative options - I am aware of them).

I had mine done 8 years ago when I had my 4th dc and was 40. It was during a section and it is difficult to get sterilised outside of a section now. I have had heavier periods after I stopped breastfeeding but I’m also heading toward menopause. I would have loved to have another dc, but I’ve had my share and I had had 4 sections. It’s been wonderful not having to worry about contraception.

Id never trust it. My aunt had it done as she was told another baby would endanger her life for a variety of reasons.
She got pregnant 2 years later. Had to have a (quite late) abortion.

I'd love to know if anyone's managed it without having had children. I've been trying to get sterilised for nearly four years but as I'm 33, single and childfree (both very much by choice), I'm not considered suitable, because I might meet someone in future who wants kids 🙄🙄🙄

But I don't especially want my periods back either so also happy to stay on hormonal contraception.

@poshme that's also one of my greatest fears

So is it something that is really discouraged by GPS now? I’m contemplating it and giving it thought but I don’t know if I’m wasting my time.

@THNG5 I am having a csection in 5 weeks and asked to have it done. The consultant went through everything and then told me it has a 1in200 fail rate which seems ridiculously high! She said it's more likely to fail if its done immediately after the section.
In the end I have opted to have a coil put in immediately after they deliver the baby.

What a shame they didn't tell you these things beforehand!

I’m 48. I went to see my doctor a few months ago to talk about it. She said at my age it wasn’t worth it. It fails for every 1 in 200, general anaesthetic, (& the risks that come with that). She made it out to be a much more invasive operation than many of the pp here.

She said I could well be going through the menopause in 3-5 years so suggested I get the coil, which can stay in TIL I’m 55.

I had that fit last week, but painful at the time, but no issues since & more reliable than sterilisation.

@MissMooMoo They did tell me the fail rate but not that it was higher when done during a c section. If I'd been given that information, I might have held off and got it done later on. I'm definitely going to be putting a complaint in though as there were multiple times that I could have been given that (vital!) piece of information.
My mum had her tubes tied nearly 40 years ago and was never told of a failure rate (different country). She can't get over the 1 in 200 and keeps asking what's the point in doing it if you can still get pregnant!
I'm definitely going to request to see a consultant when I have my booking in appointment with the midwife next week to see what they'll do about it after the pregnancy. In the meantime, I told my husband he can go and organise a vasectomy! He wouldn't do it before, hence me getting my tubes done but I'm not risking this again!

@THNG5 I am hoping my husband will get a vasectomy. He was terrified by the 1in200 statistic!
Goodluck with everything

@Orchidflower1 I am only 25 but I have 3 children and do not want anymore. I've been to my GP twice about getting sterilized, theyve refused each time to take it any further.
I had HG, DVTS caused by pregnancy, needed multiple blood transfusions during each pregnancy, dangerously low iron, on clexane from 6 weeks, c section birth, sciatica that left me in a wheelchair for the last 8 weeks of my dd2 pregnancy and then PND to top it off and I've still been refused!
My DP asked about a vasectomy and was also told too young If I got pregnant I would have to abort it. I've begged, cried, wrote genuine reasons for needing sterilized and nope. They said the failure rate is too high to risk it for me

I had mine done during my c section with my son almost 3 years ago so cannot comment on the surgery itself. Since then Periods have been heavier especially the first year but otherwise fine. Also I have some menopause symptoms which the doctor is looking into and has said I may be in the early stages of but that is fine, kinda expect it at some point just not in my 30s. 🤷‍♀️

Does anyone know how much it would cost to have it done privately? I am soooooo done with hormonal contraception.

@BobbinThreadbare123 and @undercoveraessedai

I was sterilised in 1997 at 23 years old with no children at a time when I was engaged to and had been living for 3 years with my ex who said he did not want children either.
I understand now that this was particularly young but I was fully aware and it was my choice.
After 3 years of trying to find the right contraception for me and my lifestyle and accepting that the pill was not working for my head, my GP (since childhood) knew me well enough to refer me for sterilisation the first time I asked. I don't remember any long protracted conversations with him about being too young but then again my GP knew how I felt about not wanting children. I see it as his parting gift to me when he retired as the new female GP who replaced him lectured me a few years later about how reckless I and he had been and that I would probably regret it and basically not to come running to her when I wanted a reversal. I changed GPs to avoid any further contact with her. I wanted to rip her head off for judging me when it was perfectly obvious I was happy with my decision.
Its been 22 years now and I although I have been single 12 years now and will probably remain so now, I have absolutely no regrets and have lived a full on life since with no worries. My ex went on to get 17 years old pregnant and was devastated when she terminated. Even with this knife to the heart it has never made me question doing the right thing for me.
To the OP I have to say the keyhole procedure under GA was painless and other than the air trapped in my stomach for a couple of days afterwards I breezed though it and have enjoyed the liberation afterwards to be free of mind altering contraception.
It made no difference to the endo I have always suffered but the pill didn't help that either so not having to remember to take meds is freeing. My periods remained a bit intermittent for the next 20 years but usually between 35-55 day cycle up until age 43 when they just stopped. Not had another one since (no complaints there) and no notable menopausal symptoms either but wouldn't want to take HRT.

I found this thread really interesting, so thanks to everyone who posted. Isn't it funny how rarely female sterilisation is discussed. Vasectomies are common in mainstream media, and many a character in a TV show has struggled with that decision and the consequences. Yet, I have never seen a similar story involving female sterilisation. I know very little about it (although slightly more after reading this thread!).

I also had heavier periods afterwards and put it down to having had four csections. Then two years ago, I had an endometrial ablation procedure, which solved that issue.

can I ask if people had their tubes tied or cut? My doctor cut away a section of my tubes because she said that there was a risk that they could reconnect due to hormones after a delivery. During the surgery, I asked to see them but I lost the ability to speak French (am obviously not in the UK) and couldn't get them to understand ! Hahaha. I really wanted to see what the tubes looked like...

My dr gave me the choice
A, just cut and tied
B, just clamped
C, removal of a large section of tube
D, all of the above
I went with D

I was sterilised straight after my c section. The only problem has been having extremely heavy periods which I never suffered from before.

If you’re married or in a long term relationship perhaps DH/DP could get the snip instead? Local anaesthetic for men.

Hi, thank you for sharing your story.

I know it’s a year late and sorry to ask, but were you given an option either to have ligation or cutting the tubes? Or does the doctor choose what’s best for you?

Thank you

Thanks everyone for sharing. I’m strongly considering it, but figured I’m going to have to wait until after the worst of covid. I imagine it won’t be seen as remotely essential right now.