BellaOnline Forums Relationships Married No Kids tubal ligation, help.

Hello everybody.
After having to have my IUD removed for severe intolerance problems (basically I had yeast infections once a month at least), I am considering a tubal ligation. I am not afraid of the procedure, I am just concerned about possible side effects. I mean, I had read nowhere that IUDs could cause infections, and looked what happened. I have read that some women have longer or more painful periods. I know that some of you here have had your tubes tied. Could you please share with me your experience? I would really appreciate. Thank you very much.

I posted my sterilization experience and I hope it helps. This board does not allow you to post URL's so I cannot give you the link (unless I can PM you the link). Go and look into the archives and look for my post which is titled "STERILIZATION DAY"

I had my tubes tied about 24 years ago - I am not "soon to be" 53. It was done through my naval so there is no evidence of the surgery. I have not had any infections or issues or tubal pregnancies. It was an "in and out" surgery, I was home and functioning okay in spite of everyone telling me I would not.

Just make sure your doctor is highly recommended, get some sleep the night before and try to eat healthy.

I hope this helps

I was concerned a little too when I had it done about 5 years ago (when I was 24), because I had read about all these women complaining about "post tubal ligation symptoms" These women claimed that having their tubes tied caused them chronic problems, everything from bad cramps to headaches, to depression and itchy skin. You name it, somebody blamed having their tubes tied on it.

Now, being a women who has suffered from my own "plumbing problems" over the years that have been downplayed by the medical community, I was hesitant to write these women off as loonies. Granted, from my understanding of the human body, I couldn't imagine how blocking the fallopian tube could cause any kind of damage. But, I already had problems, the idea that I could make it worse didn't please me. But, my mom had it done when she was about 40, and she has no complaints, so I was hopeful that I'd be okay too.

So, I got it done, and I have no complaints. Although, I can't truly say there wasn't a side effect. I used to (as in the past) have an endocrine disorder called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Even with my medication, I had a period maybe every 40 to 50 days, I was exhausted all the time (slept like 12 hours a night), had horrible acne, and a list of other annoying issues that come along with it. Well, right after I had my tubes tied, something weird happened. My periods started coming every 28 days like clockwork, I had more energy, my acne cleared up... it was crazy. I went to my endocrinologist, and she confirmed it. I no longer had PCOS. All my hormone levels had magically become normal, and I didn't need medication any more. Neither she nor my gyno could explain it, it's not something that is supposed to just "go away." The only thing that occurred between my last period and the next strangely on time one was having my tubes tied.

So, for me, yeah, it did actually have a (unconfirmed) side effect. Obviously, I can only call it a correlation, not causation. Turned out to be a good one though. Although, a period every 28 days is really excessive. But, at least I'm off the meds and don't have to go to the endocrinologist anymore:)

Hope that helps.

-D

Dolyn: WOW..you had a Tubal when you were 24? Thats odd unless they put ya thru the mill with questions, paperwork to fill out, try to talk you our of it, sign papers that you promise not to sue the doctor if you change your mind or want a reversal, etc. I do not know where you are from but that could do with it to.

LOL, good point and I was ready with my reasons why I wanted it done. Here I was with only one child and age 29. I had heard from various women that their doctors would refuse to do it if they had no kids or one or in their 20's. My doctor, bless his heart never challenged my decision as he knew I waited until my only child was 1 before I did it. Yes it can be reversed, but I did not want to have any regrets and not be able to reverse. It was the best decision on my side as I had been on the pill pass the time to be safe and I was not into getting pregnant with the other options. Just make sure it is what you want to do as it is suppose to be PERMANENT

Well, it was definitely a long arduous journey to begin with, but the part where I got my tubes tied came pretty quickly. The quickest version of my story is: had to go off all hormonal BC for health reasons, and I'm allergic to spemicide which makes almost all barrier methods less reliable. For a time, my husband and I only had nonspemicidal condoms to rely on, NOT FUN.

Having my tubes tied wasn't actually my first intention. Oh, I'd of loved to have had it done, but I also never thought I'd find a doctor willing to do it. What I was looking for was any doctor who wasn't too much of a wuss to give me an IUD. This whole, "IUDs are for women who have had at least one child" thing is BS. All over the world women get them without having given birth. The problem is that many doctors just don't trust themselves to do it on a woman who has never had a kid, so most won't. I finally managed to find a doctor who would give me one, but the idiot INSISTED I get the Mirena because it's a more felxible plastic. I TRIED to tell him the reason I couldn't use the progesterone only pill was because I had severe bleeding problems with it, became anemic and had to be taken off. It's a pretty uncommon reaction, but sometimes happens. He, again, INSISTED that because the Mirena was a lower dose I'd be fine. Yeah, sure. Anyone here ever had a period for 3 months straight? That's how long I had to have my period before he believed that I wasn't going to "adjust" to having it. Again, I had become severely anemic and weak (even with the iron supplements), and it had to come out.

Knowing this was going to happen, I had my husband come with me to the appointment to see if we could both finally convince someone to do it, seeing as how this guy KNEW I had no avenue of BC left. Still, when I told him I did not want children (and he also knew I had already had 2 abortions from failed BC!) and asked him to tie my tubes, he initially said no. I was all prepared to be strong and argue before I got there, but the sheer frustration that had been building up over the whole thing got to me. I just began sobbing in his office. Thank God my husband was there to speak up. He yelled at the doctor, "This is insane. We have no reliable birth control, my wife has already had to have 2 abortions, and the fear of getting pregnant is ruining our sex life. You either tie her tubes, find us someone who will, or I swear the next time she gets pregnant you are going to terminate the pregnancy for her!" My husband is not a confrontational man at all. I'm sure some part of that reaction was him trying to help me, but I think most of it was his own frustration too. I had been so wrapped up in my own misery, I hadn't really thought about how it had all effected him. I didn't want to get pregnant, but he didn't want to GET me pregnant either.

Bah, insanity, all of it. Anyway, after my husband yelled at him, he finally agreed. I only had to sign the regular forms. As far as know, no doctor has ever been sued for giving a person a tubal ligation just because the person is young. If the person agrees, it's their fault if they think they made a mistake 10 years down the line. I think most of the doctors just don't like the "guilt" if the woman does actually regret it later. There's none of that on my end though.

So, from my experience, my advice to anyone who wants it done but can't get their doctor to do it:

1) Bring in significant other (if you have one) to argue with you.
2) (Whether or not you mean it) Tell them if you ever get pregnant you WILL have an abortion.
*3) If you have had an abortion, tell them they will have to do the termination procedure if you ever get pregnant again.

*This seemed to scare the heck out of my doctor when my husband yelled it at him, not sure how it would go over with others.

Good luck!

-D.

Wow, Dolyn! Your story really demonstrates the urgency we feel as CFC's. Who wants to need an abortion? I'm so glad your husband was able to advocate for you. I think many docs and others assumed you were young and trying to prevent pregnancy through your party days or something. I'm glad you got what you wanted. I too, am allergic to spermicide. However, we've used it ( almost always resulting in a UTI on my end). Sex was such a source of anxiety for us that we decided to stick to other forms until he got a vasectomy. Interestingly enough our doc was pretty cool he asked us a few questions and that was that. we live in the Northeast, and it's pretty liberal here (at least for the most part).

Thank you very much for all the answers, it really helps to hear positive experiences.



That is the kind of thing that was worrying me, in every website I find talking about tubal ligation, they end up talking about those symptoms. I needed to hear some one being sceptic about it. Thanks.