Sterilisation

[Lindy]

I am seriously considering sterilisation, I am one million % sure I do not want another child, I am 44. My Doctor is keen for me to stop taking the pill in the next couple of years, I do not like the idea of an IUD. Has anyone else here been sterilised? Are you willing to share your thoughts/opinions with me? Many thanks.

Lindy, I don't know anyone who's had the op, but know it's a big one...is there anyway your dh/partner would consider sterilisation?

Lindy, I haven't had the op, but am considering it- its not all that big, really. You do have to have a general anaesthetic, I believe, but the clips can be applied to the tubes laparoscopically, i.e. via a telescope inserted into the abdomen. There are usually only 2 very small scars, and it is a "daycase" procedure unless you are medically unfit for some reason. My dh has had previous surgery "down there", so sterilisation for him would be more problematic than for me, even though its all on the outside!

Tissy, I hadn't realised it was done as a day case, it does sound far less major than I'd imagined! Here's some guidelines from the Royal college of Gynaecologists' website on sterilsation
hth

Lindy I was done as a day patient in December and have never regretted it for a second. I had hardly any pain and the scars are so tiny because they go in through your belly button and near your bikini line. I was back doing my usual routine within about 3 days and have had no problems ever. I bled for about 10 days afterwards like a period, then another about 2 months after. From then on they have been regular.
Hope this helps in making your decision.

Thanks to all of you for your comments, very helpful, I had also heard that it is just a 'day procedure' (pity, I shall be going private so I had quite fancied a night or two away!). My DH does not want to have a vasectomy for what I consider quite genuine reasons, don't want to go into it on this thread as I am just seeking practical opinions for myself regarding the op.

Thanks again

I've been sterilised at the age of 30, had to wait till 30th birthday (twice, but that's another story!) It is now a relatively minor op, in and out in under four hours, except the second time I had to have a general incase they needed to remove the fallopian tubes, just to make sure.

Seriously, I was sterlised when my son was three months old, my daughter just 15 months. That was what I wanted, but I fell pregnant 11 weeks afterwards. I couldn't go through with the pregnancy because that is what we had decided, two close together. I also had been sterilised when it was done under a general and a largish incision made, the wound became infected and the stitches did not dissolve, I ended up having them rem oved on boxing day, and taking all sorts of antibiotics etc, which were not recommended in pregnancy.
I didn't have a problem with the termination ( and still don't) but they managed to mess that up as well (7 weeks) and ended up haemaeroghing (can't spell).

I was sterilised again three years later, so I now have three clips on one side and two on the other, I'm sure that's why I can never go thru an xray machine without it beeping!!

Even depsite the problems I had, it was the best thing I ever did. I didn't want to be on the pill for another 15 years, it's great never having to worry !

Go for it!