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Original poster

Sterilisation during c-section - any experiences?

15 replies

Floryella · 21/10/2023 18:19

I'm currently 25 weeks pregnant with baby no 2 and am planning an elective c-section.

I'm 39 and don't want any more children after this so am considering asking if they could tie my tubes during the operation. This is something that's possible but they say the risks of it going wrong and a pregnancy occurring in the future are a bit higher than if it's done in a separate procedure.

My husband is also ok with the idea of a vasectomy (and these have a higher success rate) but I figure if they're already up in there...!

Has anyone else undergone this procedure? Any bad/good experiences?

OP posts:
imip · 21/10/2023 18:22

Yes, I was sterilised during baby and c-section no 4 11 years ago. It’s true that the success rate is a little lower I think because your fallopian tubes are engorged while pregnant.

it worked though. I had four children in five years and did not fall pregnant after (was 40 at the time).

LadyGeorginaSmythe · 21/10/2023 18:23

I was sterilized almost 11 years ago when I had a c-section. Honestly the recovery was no worse than my previous section. And I've managed to not conceive since so all positive.
I think the sterilization added maybe an extra 30 mins to my surgery so it was a little bit longer until I could be with my baby twins, but husband was with them and I was pretty dopey from the pain relief anyway.
I was of the same view that since I was in surgery anyway, I may as well be sterilized rather than DH undergoing a vasectomy.

VisaWoes · 21/10/2023 18:24

They’re unlikely to agree to it easily due to the failure rate….off the top of my head I don’t know what the failure rate is. So I would say find out and if it’s an acceptable rate to you tell them you’re making an informed choice and would like to proceed. But you will need to have this discussion with an obstetrician antenatally, not on the day.

anicecuppateaa · 21/10/2023 18:36

I was offered it during my c section last year but declined. Definitely worth asking.

anicecuppateaa · 21/10/2023 18:37

By that I mean I was offered to have it during the c section, we had the discussion beforehand, although they did ask again on the day.

GU24Mum · 21/10/2023 18:40

I had one during a second C-section and it hardly added any time. My OH had had a vasectomy a few months earlier (we wanted to be sure!) and that was my last pregnancy.

sunshowers01 · 21/10/2023 18:44

I am due to have my 4th csection in March and have discussed the possibility of this with my consultant. They told me they prefer to totally remove the tubes now rather than tie / cut them as t it reduces the rate of eptopic pregancy and failure as well as reduces the chance of some types of cancer. The procedure is non reversible though so you have to be 100 percent sure.

Original poster
Floryella · 21/10/2023 18:46

Thanks for this, I hadn't considered the extra half an hour but of course it would take longer! I think that's OK, as you say the pain relief makes you feel pretty dopey anyway.

OP posts:
Original poster
Floryella · 21/10/2023 18:47

Thank you, yes I have an appointment booked in to discuss and have already raised it as a possibility. They've given me some information to look at so I can make an informed decision. Great to have the input from those who have already gone through it though!

OP posts:
MrsHsGirl · 21/10/2023 18:50

@anicecuppateaa the clarification really made me giggle - imagining them just randomly asking while you were on the table

Peapop777 · 21/10/2023 18:55

I was sterilized 19 years ago after my 3rd c section aged 27.
Worked for me, meaning I haven't fallen pregnant since 😅
No difference in recovery etc.

THNG5 · 21/10/2023 19:15

I had it done during my c section of my third child. My tubes were cut. 6 months later, I was pregnant with my 4th... As a pp said, the failure rate is bigger when done during a c section as everything is swollen (I was not told this). During my c section of my 4th, the consultant had a look (before sterilising me again!) and apparently my tubes had fused together on one side. My husband was so freaked out that he's had a vasectomy! 3 years on, I can say with confidence that I'm sterilised!

PurBal · 21/10/2023 19:19

My placenta was anterior and very low. This was something DH and I discussed. I would have 100% had the procedure done had c section been the suggestion (my placenta “moved” and ended up induced and having a vaginal delivery) The waiting list for a vasectomy is long in our area so this was a factor too.

Vegemite001 · 21/10/2023 19:23

Yep! I did. It took about 10 mins longer. The major bleed was more of an issue than the sterilisation, and other issues around the birth made it all more stressful than it needed to be. But the actual sterilisation was no biggie.

Beforehand, the GP and consultant discussed with me what my thoughts would be if the baby was born stillborn or ill. Or how I would feel if one of my children passed away (grim topic!!!). We agreed that I would re-consent verbally after he was born, as if he were unwell I might have reason to regret my decision.

Lilypotts · 21/10/2023 19:41

I caught with my 3rd child at 38, after my husband had the snip 2 years earlier. I had to have an emergency c-section so I asked if they could tie my tubes while they were down there, which they did. 10 years passed and I developed sepsis due to an abcess on my right tube, which may or may not have been related to the tying of my tubes. If you want to go ahead with it, I'd definitely ask them to remove the whole tubes, instead of tying them, just in case👍

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