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Original poster

anyone been sterilised?

29 replies

bagpussmice · 17/02/2006 09:26

seriously thinking about it and wondered if you can do it on the NHS or do you have to be referred from GP and go private? How long is the recovery period?

OP posts:
Original poster
bagpussmice · 17/02/2006 13:09

anyone??

OP posts:
Blandmum · 17/02/2006 13:11

Me, I had me tubes 'done' when I had ds (c section)

recovery wasn't an issue for me as I had the section to worry about IYSWIM

Nvere regretted it for a minute

WharfRat · 17/02/2006 13:15

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Original poster
bagpussmice · 17/02/2006 13:25

thanks both... did you have general anesthetic???

OP posts:
WharfRat · 17/02/2006 14:37

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Original poster
bagpussmice · 17/02/2006 15:57

I am always sick with general too, so that's useful to know if/when I go ahead.

OP posts:
lou33 · 17/02/2006 15:58

i did it on the nhs jut over 4 years ago, and never regretted it for one second, i feel totally liberated by it.

I was in and out the same day, and was back to normal after about 3

expatinscotland · 17/02/2006 16:03

I'd like to look into this, too. DH has offered to have a vasectomy, but the consultant was VERY reluctant b/c he's only 28.

I, on the other hand, am 35 next week.

Hormonal contraception is causing more and more side effects.

I've had PND w/both girls. I'm still having to deal w/extreme anxiety issues - going to see consultant next week about this and categorically DO NOT want to repeat this experience again.

I know in my heart that having more just is bad for my mental health.

I'm worried about GA, tho, and also recovery time, as I have a 2.6 year old and a 10 week old baby.

WharfRat · 17/02/2006 16:10

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expatinscotland · 17/02/2006 16:27

My big issue w/the hormonal contraception, however, is my PND, which I am also having to receive drug treatment for. I plan to discuss it w/my psychiatric consult next week, b/c my anxiety has been growing worse and I'm wondering if hormonal contraceptive isn't exacerbating the problem.

My big worry, of course, is that I don't have that kind of support at home. My family is abroad and DH's parents help where they can, but they are both in ill health.

expatinscotland · 17/02/2006 16:28

Btw, the copper coil is OUT for me. I have personal issues w/how it works. Plus, longer, heavier periods? NO thanks!

SorenLorensen · 17/02/2006 16:30

I'm thinking about it. I'm 100% sure I don't want any more children and I've been on the pill a long time, I'm nearly 37, family history of heart/strokes/high BP.

Mercy · 17/02/2006 16:40

expat, men who have at least 4 children are 'allowed' to have an NHS vasectomy, regardless of age. Friends of mine have 2 children and they went private; it did involve counselling though - he would have been about 34 at the time. It is still 'safer' for a man to be sterilised than a woman

Original poster
bagpussmice · 17/02/2006 17:18

if you go privately do you have to be referred by your GP or can you go direct?

OP posts:
fisil · 17/02/2006 17:22

My GP is very reluctant to let me be sterilised. I could just not be pg again. I just couldn't. So I have not made love since ds2 was born!

But TBH I know that occasionally women who have been sterilised can fall pg, and I think I would still find it difficult to have sex even if I had been sterilised. Can you people who have been sterilised put my mind to rest?

alibubbles · 17/02/2006 18:31

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Yorkiegirl · 17/02/2006 18:40

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Milliways · 17/02/2006 18:56

I had this done in 1999, no regrets, it's fab.

All us ladies were admitted together early one Saturday morning, all had to take PG tests! Then we were all lined up and wheeled in & out like a production line, but it was a great atmosphere on ward as we were all in the same boat. Me & 1 other lady were very sick & almost admitted over night, others were up & about really quickly. Got home & went to bed. Had 1 week off work.

Had to wait a few weeks from seeing GP to see Counsellor people, then a check up at hospital, then the op. Few months total I think. 1 week recovery is fine. You feel ok after 2-3 days, but after GA cannot go to work for the week.

expatinscotland · 17/02/2006 19:17

Thanks for the warning, ali! , what a terrible thing to have happen.

I don't see how they can refuse me, tbh. I'm certainly old enough. And w/my history of severe PND two times already, it's in my family's - and my - best interest.

foxinsocks · 17/02/2006 19:22

just out of interest (and apologies if this is a thicko question), once you have been sterilised, what happens to your periods and hormones? Do they remain much the same or do you notice a difference?

expat, I would not be surprised if any sort of hormonal contraception was making you feel worse. I'm not someone who's ever been depressed but I find now (ever since my mirena coil disaster) that any sort of hormonal contraception sends my hormones all over the place.

Blandmum · 17/02/2006 19:24

My periods are the same. All you are doing is stopping the egg from embedding in the uterus. All the hormonal stuff stays the same, so the lining of the uterus thickens and when you are not pg, is lost as the period

Milliways · 17/02/2006 19:25

You notice that they are no longer every 28 days to the minute that they are if you take the pill. Also, if coming off the pill they can get a bit heavier.

I didn't notice a real difference to worry about though.

Blandmum · 17/02/2006 19:25

Oh and because I had my after the c section I had my tubes removed, not clipped. I saw them in a jar. veryy odd

foxinsocks · 17/02/2006 19:27

thanks martianbishop

foxinsocks · 17/02/2006 19:29

eewww

thanks milliways aswell

guess to get rid of periods and hormones, they have to give you a hysterectomy (then you get to go through menopause)!

gawd, being a woman is a pain sometimes