To ask your experience of female sterilisation?

[emmapemma91]

So I’m booked in for this tomorrow, very nervous! Also getting ablation. Never had surgery before.

Basically wondering - how long will I be asleep for? How long until I can expect to run around after kids again (it is summer holidays!)? How many hours do they usually keep you in after you wake up?

Sorry, just a bit nervous!

I had it done - it was like bad period pain for 2 days. I was up and about straight away (keyhole) - the only thing for me was the effects of the anesthetic. It backed me up so I had to force it lol. I just had a sleep the first day and was right as rain.

Thank you! Were you out of hospital same day?

Yes - I had to have had a wee and they let me go after about a few hours - I was first in at 7.30am and my Dad picked me up around 2pm.

I found using a paralink suppository helped with post anesthetic constipation. Otherwise it's like shitting a tractor.

No problems with the sterilisation op itself - the problems I had with the after effects of anaesthesia were pretty horrendous. Day surgery ended up being an overnight stay - just unlucky with side effects though!!

I was sterilised by choice the age of 24, keyhole surgery, and recovered within 48 hours. A good job as I had a three and one year old at the time. Best decision I ever made! Good luck to you.

Mine was done with a local anesthetic, I even got to see my ovaries on the screen! Home the same day with mild cramping that lasted 48 hours.
I've had worse colds lol

Was that on NHS or privately because I know a couple of women who were refused being under 30

Done at the time of my third c/s, recovery no different than other c/s’s.

I was only in hospital a few hours with mine (keyhole but under general). TBH it was a bit more painful afterwards than I’d been expecting but I also milked it for a couple of days as I was a bit disgusted at DH for not getting done himself. It wasn’t much worse than doing too many sit-ups really and well worth it to not have to think about contraception anymore.

@Rainbow1901 what was the problem? Never had anaesthetic and I react really bad to most things!

I had filshe clips during c section so I didn't have the same procedure... but I can give my opinion on how it feels afterwards. Amazing. So free. I have had 0 side effects from it, and I usually react in some way to everything. It's the best thing I ever did for my health. I had it done when I was 25 due to genetic illness. I haven't had to worry about taking the pill or having an implant or coil ever again and it is very liberating. I have no regrets at all. My periods are like they always were. No pain from my ovaries or tubes and I had it done over a decade ago.

I had mine done on the NHS at 25, ten years ago. It's on a case by case basis. Generally they won't if you're under 30 but I was allowed after convincing the surgeon...

First was an emergency section so the second time they give you the choice. I had my pre-op for the planned section and I asked while I was there. I said I'd thought about it and stated my case. He asked me lots of questions like was I married, do I want more children, what if we break up, what does my partner think (he was there so he was asked as well). He asked what would happen if they didn't do it. I'd already prepared my answers after advice from my midwife. I declined counselling which is the usual process, and continued to give my reasons below...

I have a genetic illness.

It was my second c section and they dont like doing more than 2 because of the risk and cost to the NHS. After 2, you're almost definitely going to have to have a section over a natural birth.

I'd had pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, hyperemesis... just difficult pregnancies that were both back to back due to my womb.

Can't take hormonal contraception because of migraines at the time (which have resulted in proximal DVTs in later life).

I'd actually been pregnant 4 times and due to the two that were lost, I almost died from hemmorhages and had to have emergency surgery.

First labour was 5 days before emergency c section and due to no sleep in that time I got PPP. Then got PPD, and I'd been warned that could happen again.

... well the surgeon said that he would sterilise anyone presenting with just one of those reasons and he put it on the same surgery. Just mentioning in case anyone is looking in future.

I'd never had an operation until I had my sterilisation operation - just reacted badly when I woke up with extreme vomiting which wasn't eased with anti-sickness meds. I had the same issue twenty odd years later with a different hospital for a mastectomy and reconstruction and even though they knew I'd reacted badly in the past they didn't know what anaesthesia I'd been given so had the same issue but it took days to recover as my op was nine hours long.
A subsequent operation followed a few years later at the same hospital and they used a different anaesthesia and I had no issues at all. I was sitting up eating toast and tea a couple of hours later.
So there's no way of knowing what and if anything you may react to.

I had mine done when I was 27, the surgery was a breeze and recovery was great. I've had a lot of surgeries and that was one of the best experiences I've had. Best decision I've ever made.

Thought I’d update for anyone else who’s looking for experiences:

Had it done yesterday. Was okay with anaesthesia but strong painkillers didn’t agree with me, probably because I’m only slight.

Was in quite bad pain where my tubes are, but that’s settled today ☺️

That's brilliant, op. I'm so glad it went well!