Anyone had a tubal?

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Anyone had a tubal?
19
Tue, 04-12-2005 - 9:25am
I know this isn't the right place for this, but I do post in this community and feel like I know many of you ladies. After trying every birth control method under the sun and coming to the realization that I do not want to have anymore children, I made a tubal ligation consultation with my doctor. Anyone here have one? If so, how bad was the procedure? Do you feel any different afterwards?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-25-2004
Tue, 04-12-2005 - 9:28am

My secretary got one.

The thing is that you have to be VERY SURE. The doctor will ask you a lot of questions and if you cannot answer them all to be very sure he won't give you one. Personally I think you should wait until you are married again to make that decision. I felt the way you do now after my divorce and even before it. But now I want another baby!!

Anyway - just my two cents worth....

It was not a big deal for her - she did it as an outpatient. She was tired for a week but then okay.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Tue, 04-12-2005 - 9:59am

Thanks for the feedback West. I have a lot of questions for my doctor, so I won't make my final decision until after the consultation. I've thought about this for at least a year. It has nothing to do with my current relationship status, except that I really, really, really don't want to get pregnant again. My son has some special needs (very bright, but has learning difficulties). I can't ever see me taking on another child. I like my body the way it is too and don't want to be pregnant again. I'm having side effects from my current form of birth control and I'm just sick of it.

My one big fear about a tubal is that something would go wrong with it and I'd end up pregnant on accident.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 04-12-2005 - 11:05am

Just another opinion. My doctor told me he would not do a tubal for birth control unless he felt there was a danger to the mom in being pregnant again. He said he had seen complications he didn't like. I know LOTS of women get them, so I only say this so that you look into it carefully and are aware of the possible complications so you don't get surprised. You can probably find a lot of info on the net, but maybe you've done that already.


iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Tue, 04-12-2005 - 11:14am
I wonder if your doctor has strong right to life feelings. I'm going to ask my doctor specifically what kind of complications she has seen in her patients.
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-26-2003
Tue, 04-12-2005 - 11:16am

He doesn't express them if he has them. He doesn't have literature in his office to that effect.


What I have seen is he likes to use a natural approach to lots of things if possible. He's open to things like flax oil rather than hormone therapy, for instance.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-28-2005
Tue, 04-12-2005 - 11:20am

I had a tubal after I gave birth to my last child...never regretted it! It was just about painless.

I was 36, married (unhappily) with 3 kids and very very sure of not wanting more. I agree with the poster who said you have to be very sure you don't want any more children. Unlike other forms of birth control, a tubal ligation is permanent, so you are making a final decision. It was definitely the right choice for me though.

Community Leader
Registered: 10-22-2001
Tue, 04-12-2005 - 8:21pm
I just would be very sure. I had one and two weeks later approximately my now ex-husband left me. It was day surgery. I was tired and there was some pain physical and emotional. Added complication I did have an ectopic pregnancy. The other factor I would consider is it is a pretty permanent decision. I met someone after my ex left and we decided we wanted to have a baby together but it wasn't meant to be. The tubal could have been reversed but the chances of conceiving were very small. I had an operation to check out the feasibility of it being reversed. We lost a baby early on and this was very hard for us to accept. I had two children but I knew he wanted kids of his own, although I know he loved my dd and ds. I didn't want him being resentful down the road, we broke up. Long story short he got married to someone else and they have two kids as far as I know they are theirs. Part of our fertility problems were his sperm. (low volume) Add to that my tubal had caused severe scaring and adhesions. They could be re-attached but would be very narrow, harder to become pregnant sadly we lost one already. I don't think we could have coped losing another. Our relationship ended. If you do decide to go ahead just take care of yourself and have someone there for you and your son. I don't know what I would have done without my friends. They were life savers. Luckily I am blessed with my dd and ds but sometimes I wonder what if but for me at the time I felt it was the right decision for ME.
You have to make the right decision for YOU.
Good-luck and I wish you the best whatever your decision.
Nightangel
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Wed, 04-13-2005 - 8:31am

Did you have any physical side effects from the surgery that lasted beyond the normal recovery time?

It sounds like you suffered from a lot of regret and emotional stuff.

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 04-13-2005 - 10:40am

I know 14 women that have had tubals. Not one of them had any complications or problems.

My mom had a tubal immediately following my birth, and never had one problem. My aunt had a tubal at the age of 25, she's now 52, never had a problem. The list goes on and on.

My dh had a vasectomy. If anything ever happens to him, I will IMMEDIATELY get a tubal. I do NOT want anymore kids. In fact, truth be told, I didn't want any after my first. Although I of course love Alex, I would have been just fine without him and certainly didn't have any desire, at all, to have another child.

One thing that I DO know, alot of women don't realize that if it weren't for the pill, they would have really bad, wicked periods. They never stop taking the pill, they go in for their tubal, they then quit using the pill and they blame the tubal - when in reality - it's simply how their body is when not regulated by hormones. I know of two doctors that both recommend that a woman go off of birth control for 6 months, allow her body to regulate itself, and then if everything is kosher, to go for the tubal.

Although I haven't had a tubal ligation, I have had 12 laparoscopies, which is how the tubal is performed, with scar tissue and stuff burnt off. The heal time for my laps is to go in on Thursday, have the surgery (I prefer to go under sedation - you don't have to - you can request a local only), sleep all day Thursday. Sleep most of the day Friday and feel a little ouchy. Rest and take it easy on Saturday and Sunday - back to work Monday. That is pretty common, from what I understand.

iVillage Member
Registered: 06-30-2003
Wed, 04-13-2005 - 10:50am
Thanks so much for your feedback.

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