Steralisation during C-section - pros and cons

[beachyhead]

I am considering this as I am due to be having my third and last child in August and am very likely to be having a C section (unless I spontaneously erupt very early). I had planned to have a steralisation at the time, but I am woefully ill informed about it......

It seems logical to me, but can anyone see the downsides (I'm 39, by the way)
Do I get periods after (thicko, I know)
Does it increase/decrease risks of osteoporosis or anything similar?
Presumably, I just would have the menopause normally at whatever age?

Anybody with any knowledge or experience welcome....

found this on netdoctor, not sure how much i'd trust the site as i don't use it regularly, but an interesting one to think about: (sorry about the weird formatting)

Question

My fiancée is six months pregnant at the moment and wants to be sterilised once the baby is born, but she has heard that it isn?t as effective straight after giving birth by Caesarean section. Is this correct? If so, is it better to wait for six months or so? What will be involved in the sterilisation procedure?

Answer

Your fiancée has been given accurate information. The failure rate of sterilisation done at the time of Caesarean is significantly greater than when the procedure is carried out at a later date. This is because the Fallopian tubes are larger and more swollen at the time of a Caesarian than they are at a later date, making the procedure slightly more difficult and the outcome less reliable. Another reason that some specialists will recommend sterilisation at a later date is that the first 12 months is the time of greatest risk as far as the baby is concerned, and many prefer to wait until this higher risk period is over before contemplating such a procedure.

Sterilisation may be carried out under general or local anaesthetic. The operation may be carried out by laparoscopy or by more major incision. The integrity of the Fallopian tubes is disrupted either by dividing and cutting, or by the application of clips or rings, or by heating them so that they fuse together [diathermy].

Yours sincerely

The NetDoctor Medical Team

Had a friend on my antenatal group on Babyworld who was sterilised during her CS - she was 26 - but it was her 4th child and 4th CS didn't want any more kids. I know she ummmed and ahhed over for it a long time before deciding to go for it - but it was on the recommendation of the medical stafff she had it done at the same time.

Unfortunately she no longer posts on our group or I'd have asked her more.

I had it done.

No effect on periods, tube is cut, it is not a hysterectomy or having the ovaries removed

No effect on when you have the menopause so no effect on osteoporosis and similar.

Slightly higher failure rate and all the 'bits' are swolen, so they took my tubes out rather than cut and clip.

I had no probelmens at all

but the royal college of obs/gynae advise you cut n tie the tubes rather than put clips on..

Mine went altogether, I saw them in a jar in recovery.....wierd! How many people have seen their own falopian tubes I wonder??????

during my 1st c/s my surgeon told me i had a lovely uterus/fallopian tubes

ooo just the thought of it is making me feel queasy - perhaps if I didn't still want another baby (fat chance with DH's opinion LOL) I may feel differently - but making me cringe just talking about it

Thanks - leading onto the curtain up and down discussion on here about a year ago, could I ask them to put the curtain up for this bit do you think?

They did tell me the success rate was lower, but that after 3 C-Sections, they would prefer to do it during the op, rather than trying to get thru my scarred and knackered uterus at a later date (not their words)

Can't see any downside at the moment - anyone think of one? (other than not being able to have more children, but I think post 40, that is less than likely anyway)

im 22 years old and expecting my 3rd child. my other two were done by elective c section so this will be the same for the 3rd.as ive had three in 3 years just wondering whether to have a sterilisation as im still young.

choco, i doubt you would get anyone to agree to carry out a sterilisation operation on you as such a young age... and also there is a higher rate of failure with sterilisation being done with c.s as everything is more swollen due to pregnancy, and the op might not be more succesful

22 is very, very young to make the decision to have no more children

have you considered long term contraception such as a coil or implant?