Sterilisation- any age limit for private?

Rebekah24

Thank you all for the replies

I will be thinking long and hard before making and decisions.

Will make a note of all the information, cheers

cazmanian_minx

It can be done on the NHS if you're under 30 without children - I had it done at 28, but I'd been asking regularly since I was 23 and I had to see two doctors, two gynaecologists and a psychiatrist before the NHS would agree to do it. I'm 35 this year and it remains one of the things in my life I'm gladdest I did - but then I've been adamant since the age of 5 that children were not something that were going to feature in my life!

Spendless

Rebakah - with all due respect, weren't you posting a few days ago on the waiting to conceive thread saying you were broody but knew you had a few years before you were in a position to have a child.
I'd look at different contraception choices.

WASHER

Pollycat wrote: »

If your doctor is adamant, then I agree with Ceridwen re the Marie Stopes clinics.

This sounds strange to me:

They? Who are 'they'?
I find it hard to believe that there is an age embargo on sterilisation in your NHS area.
I think this is maybe your GP's opinion.

To be honest, your post doesn't come across to me as being definite about not wanting children.

You don't say 'I don't want children, I've never wanted children, I'll never want children, if me and my OH split up and I meet a fab man who wants children, I'll STILL never want children'.

In fact, you've not mentioned children at all, just the problems you're having with contraception.
Could this be why your GP is not keen to recommend you for sterilisation?

I apologise if I'm totally wrong with this but that's how your post comes across to me.

If you're really serious about being sterilised, I'd follow the link that Ceridwen gave.
It's very much 'no fuss', many years ago they were offering sterilisation on an out-patient basis under local anaethsetic (general if you preferred), this was at the time that sterilisation under the NHS meant a week long stay in hospital.

Whatever you do, do make sure it's your final decision.
Although Paparika says



it's not guaranteed, and is a much more difficult process than with a vasectomy.

My GP said something similiar to me 8 years ago, wouldn't even entertain discussing it with me, I found her very unhelpful, I had two children and I know I and my husband did not want anymore. I asked the GP if it was worth getting another opinion, not in this practice was her response, we don't like to consider female sterilisation unless the woman health was at risk under the age of 30.

My husband went the following day and got booked in for the snip a week later. No questions asked.

Try another practice.

WASHER.x.

Fire_Fox

I asked to be sterilised at 18 and again at 28, the NHS refused. At 37 I am still child-free, still disinterested in babies and still know I'm too selfish to make a good mother.

pboae

marie stopes will do it, but I was told by MS and my GP that the 30 age limit is because the younger you are the higher the chance of failure (ie the tubes rejoining eventually). Which also means the more damage they do to try to prevent that happening makes reversals more difficult as well.

ceridwen

I'm a bit confused by that comment "the more damage they do" - in order to do the operation at a younger age???

I was under 30 at the time and it all seemed very straightforward to me - I was shown 2 clips (much the same length as hairgrips - but a bit thicker) and told "we will be clipping your tubes with 2 of these". They just showed me a gadget (dont know the technical name) that looked much the same length and thickness as a biro (if my memory serves me correct on this) and was told "we will make a small incision at your bellybutton to put this in - so that we can see the area concerned" and "we will actually put the clips in in a further small incision near the bellybutton". That was about it - went in - had it done - came round about an hour or so later from the anaesthetic (as I'd chosen to have it done under general anaesthetic) and left the Clinic by taxi a couple of hours or so after that. Travelled back to my home area the following day. Went and told my doctor I'd had this done about a week later and he took the stitches out.

Done/dusted - the only "hangover" was my bank account was about £200/£300 odd lighter (£100 for the operation and the rest for assorted other expenses travelling to see them/staying there overnight) and the scars took a while to vanish.

creased-leach

After my second and third children were conceived whilst I was taking the pill (yes, properly) I decided I wanted to be sterilised. I was 24. The consultant I saw (who incidentally looked about twelve) basically told me to come back when I was old enough to know my own mind. By the time I was 26 I was paying him another visit- with another baby on my knee.

One withering look later and he'd agreed to the op. It was quick & simple, and ten years on, no regrets.

I made the decision to have it done, there's no controlling hubby. If anything, he's a ditherer whereas I make a decision and stick to it. Blokes aren't always bad guys.

Snuggles

I have been having a similar problem. I am 36, have never, ever, wanted children, and never will. My contraceptive options are limited for various reasons, and my GP is trying to persuade me to have a coil fitted, which I absolutely do not want. I know it suits some people, but I know what I'm like, I know I would just constantly worry about it travelling somewhere it shouldn't, falling out, etc.

I want a permanent solution, but my GP won't even entertain the idea, apparently because I've never had children and might change my mind. I think she was also influenced by the fact that I'm about to get married, so perhaps is assuming we're bound to decide we want babies. It's never gonna happen, both me and OH don't want children, and frankly if he changed his mind, he would have to go and have them with someone else, because much as I love him, it's an absoloute no-no for me.

I could understand the reluctance if I was 26, but I'm 36 for gawd's sake, and I know my own mind!! It's very frustrating.

tori.k

ask again and again i was done at 23 at a hospital in Middlesbrough on the NSH. tho i was told at the time if i change my mind i wouldn't get a reversal paid for by the NHS,