Tubes tied during c-section or vasectomy?

[Decisionstomake1]

I guess I am posting for traffic! But maybe also AIBU to think tubes tied during c-section would be a good option? Has anyone had it done?

Currently pregnant and will be having a planned section same as my previous pregnancy (high risk - baby will need to come early).

I was going to ask about getting my tubes tied during the procedure. My thinking being if most of the risk of tubes tied is the operation itself and I’m already being cut open maybe it’s a good idea! or is there a lot of risk outside of this / was the recovery very bad?

Both!

If you definitely don’t want any more kids, as you say you are already going to be cut open, so may as well have them tied at the same time!

Is your plan not to have more children a long-standing one? Not sure I’d want to make an irreversible decision in late pregnancy as you might feel differently at another time.

Vasectomy, much lower risk and long term less likely to give complications. Plus sharing the responsibility.
Don't add another risk to a risky surgery. Get stitched to ASAP and get in with recovering and caring for the baby.

@DurinsBane it’s a silly situation really as it took us years and loads of IVF to get pregnant so I guess if I did decide on another I can still do more IVF and I also have frozen embryos. But I am nearly 40 now and to be honest ground down with two risky pregnancies and years of TTC so the last thing I want is a surprise natural pregnancy at 42 I often hear of in IVF circles!!!! I also don’t want to go on any more hormones. I am just worn out!

I've been thinking the same, in a similar position expecting my second and likely last due to age. I didn't know if it was possible and how much risk it would add to the C-section. I should have discussed it with the obstetrician when I had the chance - are you scheduled to see them?

@Supermand yes it’s a longstanding decision but also silly situation as I needed IVF to get pregnant so if I did decide on another I can still do it via IVF. I just don’t want a surprise pregnancy. My body and health are in tatters and I’m nearly 40 now. It’s been 10 years trying to have a family! If we are lucky enough to have two healthy children after being told none I think that’s time to move on!

@TheLurpackYears I hadn’t thought about the extra time being open / increase risk of infection.

I got tubes tied and I think it triggered my peri menopause earlier than it would have done if left alone… imo.

I have, I had 3 C sections under general anaesthesia, I asked to be sterilised if my second labour (planned VBAC) turned into another section and was told no, despite being 35 and high risk at the time. We were done but a contraception failure led to dc3, I was 38 and pushed for sterilisation whilst they were in there and this time they agreed. I know they don't like doing it at the same time as a section normally as your tubes are swollen, and the clips can come off. I believe it's a 1 in 200 failure rate due to this.

@Mamma37868 yes my care is consultant led so I will see them plenty! I will of course discuss with them just wanted to see if anyone has had it done and how they found it.

The recovery was the same and it doesn't take too much longer to clip your tubes, they're already in there.

I was sterilised on my fourth section when I was 28.

It was my best recovery- but then it was planned not emergency.

First year is the greatest risk in child mortality, so I was told to seriously consider this.

@Lollypop701 interesting. I will have to research that. I am hoping to get back to myself so going into peri menopause would not be good.

@HormonalHairyPoppins I think my consultant would do it as I’m nearly 40. Plus as I said if I did want a third I have frozen embryos and the ability to do more IVF so it’s less of a decision for me than for someone who gets pregnant naturally.

I had an elective CS with my 3rd (after 2 emergencies with previous 2 babies) and was expecting to be asked if I would like my tubes tied especially as consultant had already advised no more babies but no one said anything. My friend who had also had an elective after 2 emergency C sections was asked and said yes please. Fortunately my (now ex) H was a decent bloke and not a wimp and was happy to have a vasectomy !

@Waveifyouknowme what do you mean by ‘First year is the greatest risk in child mortality, so I was told to seriously consider this.’? I am being thick but don’t understand the link to tubes being tied!

@blobby10 my DH would get a vasectomy no problem but I guess I would worry he might be in the minority who have a side effect or that it might impact our love life which tbh due to IVF has been pretty bad. So I was thinking if I could just get it sorted during c-section then I focus on my recovery and we could try get some intimacy back (maybe when the child is one ha!)

@anicecuppateaa I think they mean your child could die and you’ve had tubes tied so can’t have another. For me less of a concern as we have infertility so this would be purely to avoid a surprise natural conception that most likely would never happen anyway (well hasn’t in 10 years anyway!). It would definitely be a big thing to consider if conceiving naturally.

Hi I had my tubes tied at 39 during my 4th c section. I had 8 pregnancies in total and I had multiple d and c's. So I had a lot of scar tissue. The longest part was getting down to the baby this took 20 minutes after that it was about 5 minutes longer than a normal section. When they done mine they didn't use clips they took 2 large pieces away completely maybe about 5 cm each side so no clips to come off and hopefully too far away to rejoin. My recover was the same as my other sections. And I was home after 2 nights. I am 47 now and I recently had bloods done and the doctor said no sign of menopause yet. Also after my periods got a lot lighter once everything settled down after the section I only have them 2 days not heavy first day light the second.
I hope that helps I also didn't want to be taking hormonal contraceptive for possibly another 10 - 15 years and I also didn't want to get a coil put in as I find even a smear test very very painful

I had it done during my fourth c section when I was 28, no regrets. I was already cut open so it was convenient for me to have it done then. My periods have gone heavier and more painful since but I think it's worth it.

Thanks @Benby this is really helpful. I’m sorry for your losses.

I’ve also heard about removing some of the tubes - I think it also reduces your chance of ovarian cancer?

tubes tied has slightly bigger risks but vasectomy still has some risks. To be really honest I’d just consider birth control but just putting it out there really if you’ve decided you want to go one way or the other! Best of luck!

@Decisionstomake1 - I had an emergency section with DC1 then a planned section with DC2 during which I got my tubes clipped. I was late 30s and knew I didn’t want any more. I’d tried lots of contraction options including the coil which made me feel awful so I decided to just get it all done at the same time. DH would have had a vasectomy but I just felt on balance it was easier for me to just get “done”.

It made no difference to my recovery and it was great to know I was safe from an unwanted pregnancy.

There doesn’t appear to be any link with early menopause as your fallopian tubes don’t produce hormones so I think this happening is more likely a coincidence.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8543885/#:~:text=3%2C%20respectively).-,There%20was%20no%20significant%20difference%20in%20the%20age%20of%20natural,)%2050.7%20(3.7)%20vs.

No idea where the “happy birthday” came from and can’t seem to remove it!!

I had it done. Similar circumstances. First born was an emergency c section of an IVF baby. Second born was a planned c section of a surprise baby and I had my tubes tied. I have bloody hideous pregnancies and at 40 knew I wouldn’t go for a third. If I’d asked I suspect DH would have had the snip but as I was already having surgery the risks didn’t seem substantially higher for me to just have it done.

Yes it can reduce the risk of some forms of ovarian cancer but guidance is tubal ligation should not be used just for cancer risk .

www.cancer.org/cancer/types/ovarian-cancer/causes-risks-prevention/prevention.html?_gl=1v04cfj_gaYW1wLURFSnNhdWh2eGZlb2pTWm1PbTd4QXc._ga_12CJLLFFQTMTcyOTU5MjIzMS4xLjEuMTcyOTU5MjIzMS4wLjAuMA.._ga_6LQQS9SG7KMTcyOTU5MjIzMS4xLjEuMTcyOTU5MjIzMS4wLjAuMA.._ga_CYE4LBPKXN*MTcyOTU5MjIzMS4xLjEuMTcyOTU5MjIzMS4wLjAuMA..

They mean that if your baby died in the first year you might want to conceive again. Like a child is a pot plant you can just pop out and replace. It’s an incredibly insensitive thing to say and yet somehow it’s still regularly trotted out.