Experiences with getting tubes tied please.

[Bookaholic73]

I'm looking for a permanent method to prevent pregnancy and I think getting my tubes tied is the answer.

I'm in my early 40's, finished having children (mine are now adults) and suffer with PMDD which means extreme mood swings each month.

I've never had an operation apart from my c section 22 years ago, and my biggest fear is being put to sleep. BUT I know that this operation is something I really want.

So, if you've had your tubes tied, what was your experience like? What did your recovery time look like?

Positive and also Negative experiences are welcome.

Anyone??

Hi OP,

I had mine done after DC3, so about 9 years ago. I've got to admit that it was a far bigger deal than I thought it would be. They do have to move around some organs and bits to get in there, and my body did not like that at all. I was in a lot of pain and needed quite a lot of pain relief afterwards. I was groggy with the GA but okay, really. It's supposed to be day release but they kept me in over-night as I was clearly in a lot of pain.

I got out the next day and had to take it easy for around 5-7 days. After that I was grand. My periods have become a little lighter (were always heavy) and my PMT not nearly as bad. I'm happy with the solution, but always warn other women that the initial week is quite rough.

Best of luck.

Thank you for the honesty @Puffalicious

One of my main concerns is how quickly I can go back to work. I have a physical job but can’t be off for 6 weeks.

I’m expecting a few weeks of pain, so thank you for explaining that it will be painful.
did you have yours done privately or through the NHS?

Not an experience as such but I really wanted mine doing and decided not to when the consultant informed me that it was less effective than the pill 😞i thought it was a guaranteed permanent contraception.Apparently not!

How is that possible?

One in 100 women will fall pregnant after a sterilisation in their lifetime.

One in 100 women will fall pregnant whilst on the pill each year.

I was NHS and all went excellently, great care friends start to finish. I haven't heard of anyone being off work for weeks on end - only for a hysterectomy, really. I also couldn't be off for weeks, the one week was fine, then back to work.

I'm not sure why PP was told it's less effective than the pill, because it isn't! I was told to use condoms for the first few weeks, then my cycle was normal. The only woman I know who got pregnant was someone who had sex within those advised few weeks- silly behaviour.

Good luck. It's been the best decision for us for sure.

From start to finish, not friends!

Oh I really hope it’s more effective than the pill!
Thank you for the feedback so far, it has basically confirmed even more that this is the op for me.

I’ll approach my GP about it.

Just an update to this. Has anyone had problems getting their GO to refer them for this op?

My GP says I might change my mind, and thinks I don’t realise how permanent it is! I tried saying it’s the permanence which appeals to me!

Hi OP. Hope you have managed to get your sterilisation since you posted this.

I went to my GP on 24th march (it was my birthday) requesting to be sterilised and she was dead against it and spent most of the appointment trying to dissuade me and then saying the waiting list would probably be so long and I'd be waiting years because it's not urgent blah blah.
Well she was wrong! I had my tubes clipped last Monday!

The most horrible thing for me is the trapped wind and I'm drinking loads of peppermint tea for that (burping and farting like a sailor 🤦🏽‍♀️)
I had two incisions and they aren't too painful at all. Some light bleeding also but otherwise it's ok.
Good luck

One of the best things I've ever done. I got my tubal ligation one year after my second was born when I was 27. My doctor said to wait a year, and he never recommends a tubal being done at the same time as giving birth. That's where the vast majority of failures stem from according to him.

The procedure was a breeze, home the same day, some discomfort but overall no problem at all.

I had my tubes removed not tied and it was fine and recovered after 2/3 days.
If you are getting them tied request they are removed as it may help to prevent ovarian cancer in later life as some ovarian cancers start in the tubes.

Apologies for thread resuscitation - did you go ahead, OP?

Am in discussion here with DH, he's looking into vasectomy but if I'm honest I'd prefer to have my tubes tied, as it's my body that I don't want to be pregnant again, if that makes sense?

Keep being told no, he should do it (by others NOT dh,) so far as I understand this is cheaper/easier but are there any reasons apart from that? We have two children, very happy with no more.

Are there any side effects like kicking off menopause/weight gain? As your ovaries stay put I'm assuming not?

Sorry, realise not thread resuscitation, last post was this morning!

@Bookaholic73 Hey! How are you getting on? I also have PMDD and have been thinking about getting my tubes tied. Concerned about my hormones afterwards though.

Having your tubes tied has zero affect on your hormones it just stops the sperm meeting egg and egg traveling down.

What about Post Tubal Ligation Syndrome?

I had my tubes tied in my 20's. Recovery was quick and easy. I still have pmdd though, it doesn't affect that at all so if that is a main reason I would maybe rethink.

I guess developing that is a risk. I have PMDD and I didn't become peri-menopausal until 5+ years after my op in my early 40s

On the plus side being peri and going onto HRT seems to have helped calm my PMDD which was the actually clincher in realising that's what I've been suffering with for bloody decades.

This goes to show how difficult stats are to understand - my understanding of what you've just written is that the pill is more effective if there are more than 365x(life expectancy) sterilised women...? Then it would be more than one per year getting pregnant then

I'm going to have my tubes tied too fwiw - mostly because, even if it's only about as effective as the pill, I understand it has fewer side effects as it's not hormone based