going sterile

[distilledvanity.livejournal.com]

I am a 25 year old female wanting to get sterilized for my 26th birthday. I am afraid of side effects. I know for a fact I never want a child so regret about not being able to have kids is not something I worry about, it's more negative hormonal side effects or complications that worry me. So if you have personal experiences with it please let me know what you have experienced...either good or bad or in between.

Comments

[indy-repair.livejournal.com]

why don't you just get your tubes tied - if you can find a doctor who will do it to a 26-year-old? you'll still get your period but won't be able to get pregnant. my mom got hers done in her late 30s/early 40s and she had periods until she went through menopause. you won't have hormonal problems if you allow yourself a monthly cycle.

[willow-starr.livejournal.com]

With tubal ligation (tubes tied) your body still produces and releases an egg, they just can't get to your uterus and sperm can't get to the egg.

[leia149.livejournal.com]

I'm in the same boat as you. 25, and want Essure soooo bad! But I should be getting Paragard in the next few months, so that should hold me over for like 10yrs, then I'm sure they'll let me get Essure.

[jennifer0246.livejournal.com]

there is a concern regarding post-tubal ligation syndrome. it's basically a set of symptoms that are unexplained by evaluation and are attributed to a change in the hormones post-tubal.

other long-term contraceptive options you may consider are essure sterilization, paragard or mirena iud, and implanon progesterone implant. sometimes it's easier to find a provider who does one of those (especially the last 3) than outright surgical sterilization.

good luck!!

[missierae.livejournal.com]

I got my tubes tied after my fourth child (I was 25). I have Post-Tubal Ligation Syndrome. It's not an easy thing to treat. After several surgeries and medications, my only alternative is a Tubal Reversal Surgery which my insurance does not cover and we have to save to pay for. Not all doctors believe that PTLS is a real issue either which makes treatment for it extremely difficult.

From talking to others, this only occurs in a small amount of women. It doesn't happen to everyone, but there is a chance.

There's a list of 34 symptoms of PTLS, I have 28. http://members.tripod.com/~sterilization_rights/Symtoms_PTS.html

[http://users.livejournal.com/urban_faerie_/]

why not get an IUD? My doctor tells me that it is as effective as sterilization, and if you don't like the way it makes your body feel you can have it removed and try something else. You are young so you have a very long time to deal with functioning ovaries, I say do the least invasive thing first and see how that goes, and then move on to more permenent things later. :)

[laughing-dreams.livejournal.com]

have you found a doctor who is willing to give you a tubal ligation at 26 when you haven't had children? because if you haven't had children it's very unlikely you will, it's a sad truth (I wish it didn't work this way) but it is as a couple above posters mentioned you may have to settle for an iud or implanon

[intellijente.livejournal.com]

Just what I was going to say. I have a friend who is 30, and she still can't find a doctor who will perform the operation on her. She's never had children, and that's the main reason why.

[laughing-dreams.livejournal.com]

yup until age 35 usually they pretty much refuse to believe that if you haven't had a bunch of kids yet that you know for sure that you don't want them so like the above poster who's 25 and has 4 then they're willing to talk but at 25-26 and no kids? highly unlikely unless it's some sort of health risk for you to have your uterus and or fallopian tubes, hell i had to argue to get my iud at 23 childless, but i got it, best decision of my life

[kkatie.livejournal.com]

My roomie asked her parents for a hysterectomy for her 10th birthday. Some people just know what they want and it's so frustrating when others won't listen because of their own prejudices or whatever. Argh.

[leia149.livejournal.com]

Yeah. I WISH I could get Essure now at 25....but Planned Parenthood will give me Paragard so I'll get that for the 10-12 yrs then I should be able to get Essure.

I do think it's crap that they don't let you make those decisions. I'll sign any type of waiver that I want to be sterilized and I'll pay any fee, just let me do it!!!!!

[ktnzgtklws.livejournal.com]

It's because this nations is RIFE with lawsuits. People can and do change thier minds, and instead of saying "Oh well, that was a choice I made back then that I have to live with." they go "ZOMG! YOu didn't tell me how permanent it would be! Doctor, it's YOUR FAULT! Sic-em, Dewey, Cheatem, and Howe!" :-P

Re: There are many good options for TL in young women

[distilledvanity.livejournal.com]

I'll check with my HMO first and then check there, thanks for the info!

[ktnzgtklws.livejournal.com]

Well, why not an IUD? There is one that is hormone free, and they're actually more effective than tubals! :-?
There's also tubals or Esure, but I think you'll have better luck getting an IUD.

[distilledvanity.livejournal.com]

IUD's seem really painful...

[gravedirt.livejournal.com]

Hi! Sorry I'm a bit late with this comment, but I hope it helps.

Like you, I have never wanted children, so at 28, I approached my doctor about tubal ligation. My body didn't do well on HBC, and I did not want an IUD, so I decided I truly did want sterilization.

My doctor was doubtful. Same crap you always hear about--was I sure, maybe I would want children later, I was a bit young to make this decision, blah blah blah. The doctor put me on the patch. And as always, my body did not do well on it, so I stopped it.

At 30, I went back to the doctor and reiterated that I had not changed my mind, was 100% sure I wanted this. She relented and performed the procedure on me, and I am happy to say I have had no complications from it. You need a few weeks to start feeling 100% better again, but I have had no hormonal problems, or other related problems from this surgery. Nor have I ever regretted getting this done to me. When you are not meant to be a parent, you KNOW.

I wish you the best, and I hope your doctor is willing to work with you on your wish. If you do schedule a procedure for yourself, feel free to message me and I can help you understand what to expect.