What Are Your Thoughts on Getting Your Tubs Tied?

My husband and I decided that since my body is the one that had to go through 2 miscarriages, 2 pregnancies, and months of breastfeeding the least he could do is have a vasectomy. Our youngest was just born a few days ago but he'll be doing it in a year or so. After reading what the other women wrote I'm glad we made that decision. Just my $.02.

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I had my tubes tied and it caused a severe hormone imbalance that couldn't be fixed. It was like PMS X 100. I couldn't handle it anymore so I reversed it 3 1/2 years later and will never do a tubal again (even though my docs said they could do it differently next time... yeah right). I'd rather have more kids than be miserable each month. I did have 3 more after the tubal reversal and I am so thankful for the unexpected blessings.

Reversing it did clear up my symptoms, thankfully.

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I had mine tied after my youngest was born 4 years ago. I have not had any physical differences with periods, PMS, etc, but I deeply regret doing it. That feeling hit me two years after my daughter was born. I know many people say when their baby turns two they start craving another, but she is four now and the regret has not gone away. We decided to try IVF last year, and it didn't work, to our surprise. We had many embryos left frozen and those did not implant either. We are actually in the midst of another cycle now with a new clinic... we are going to be paying the IVF expenses back for a while, but this was something we decided was worth it for us. I am sure that without the tubal, I would have been pregnant again and had a third by now, minus the heartache and the money. This is only my experience of course, but I just feel that it's not normal or natural that I literally killed the chances of conceiving naturally again, and I was young too when it happened (almost 33), so I am surprised my OB didn't talk me out of it. I have felt a hole in my heart and an emptiness inside since I had it done... my reasons for doing it are so very complicated that I can't even get into them here, but let's just say I am a very different person now. Perspectives change. Unless you are late 30s/40ish and/or you are SURE you are done with having kids, don't do it.

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If at all possible, I would encourage you to have your husband or partner seek a vasectomy instead. It's a much faster and easier procedure with fast recovery time and fewer risks of complications. I have a couple of friends whose tubals were fine, and a couple who regret having them because their bodies haven't been the same since. My husband was snipped - after multiple pregnancies, it's the least he could do.

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I had mine done coming on 4 years ago this month. Everything was great with the tubal ligation. Have had three children, 1 natural, 1 emergency c-section and 1 planned c-section. With the last baby since they were already cut me open it just made sense to have me get tubes tied since I knew I did not want any more children.

About a year later I felt like I should not have done it. It meant no more children what so ever for me, and that really made me feel ....really weird about it.

Got over it though, so over the baby thing. Hands full with my 5 yr old who is constantly needed attention, correction and guideance and a sweet 4 year old who fills my love take with her joy.
Everyone is different, and everyone feels different and at different times in life. Good luck to you.

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I had my tubes tied in January of 07 and ever since then I've had issues with my menstrual cycle. I seriously regret tying them for that reason. However, I know that it is what it is and as annoying as it can be it's not going change so stressing on it isn't doing me any good.

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Hi R.-

I have to concur with some of the other moms...and encourage your hubby to get a vasectomy.

Many fewer risks...and really a quick recovery!

Best luck!
michele/cat

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I had mine done 9 1/2 year ago when they did my c-section with you youngest. I did not have any problems for several year. but now my periods are abnormal. I have since been told it could be causeing early menopos. But over all I am very pleased. We knew we didn't want anymore children so and I could not take the pill so there was no question. I love not having to worry about taking any prercotions. I would not have done anything differently.

Good luck and God Bless

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I had a tubal ligation when I had my scheduled c-section after one complicated pregnancy (that ended with a baby in the NICU) and one life-threatening pregnancy (that ended with a healthy baby). My doctor told me that since I had the tubal at a young age (mid-20s) I would have a greater chance of having an unplanned pregnancy later in life because after 10 years or so the failure rate is around 2% and, in all likelihood, I will still be fertile 10 years post tubal.

I feel the same. No post tubal ligation syndrome (as far as I know...I don't really know the symptoms).

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Had mine tied 1 year after my second daughter was born. Birth control all of a sudden made my joints swell painfully. Thought about the IUD but I was really done being pregnant, so I had laproscopic tubal occlusion. They do not actually cut the tubes anymore, they pull them into a loop and then clip a ring over it. This causes the tube to be closed and scar tissue to form. Cutting it had some incidences of the tubes growing back to each other.
I had it done on a Friday, sister watched the kids for a morning, outpatient, 2 tiny cuts, 1 in my belly button, 1 in my pubic hair (they shaved the top inch). No issues at all for recovery, and you can no longer see the 2 teeny tiny scars.
I would make sure to ask my doctor about the worst case scenario for recovery, and any risks associated with the operation. Mine was 10 years ago, and things change rapidly in medicine.

1 mom found this helpful

I had mine tied after my last c-section, and I didn't notice anything different from my first c-section.

My thoughts on tubal ligation are that I wish that I had had the foresight to have it done the day of my c-section.
I wish I had known 6 years ago that I DEFINITELY only want one child...
Now we are saving up for his vasectomy... grrrr :(

I had mine done after my third child was born two years ago. I had a c-section so they did it then. I have not had any problems with it. My cycle never changed after the tubal. Best thing I ever did.

I had mine tied after my last one, 3 months ago. I had to have a c-section due to breech so it was done right after he was born. Their procedure is to cut a piece out for testing (make sure nothing is there that should not be) and cauterize both ends. I don't feel any different. Of course, this could be differnt when I get a cycle but I don;t think anything will be. My mom told me she never felt any different and she had hers done after vaginal birth. I think everyone is different though because I have heard some women may have cramping during their cycle. Maybe that depends how it is done?

I'm getting mine done next week when I have my c section for my 2 and THANK GOODNESS last child! I have a 5 year old son already. For my family it's the right decision, from the beggining we only wanted 2 kids. My mom isn't happy about it because she wants more grandkids. So if your 100% sure your done i say then it's worth it.

I had it done because we both were 100% sure we only wanted 2 kids. I love not having to use any contraception. I am very happy I do not need to put any hormones in my body (birth control pills) bc I always worry what that does to you long term. I personally had no problems and don't feel any different. I went online and read as much as I could about it beforehand. I only did it because I had to have a scheduled c-section with my 2nd child. Otherwise I think we would have opted for my husband to get snipped instead.

My OB made some very compelling arguments not to get my tubes tied, but that's based on my personal health history. I'm currently on Mirena, which is working splendidly. It's virtually stopped my periods and eliminated debilitating PMS/PMDD and related symptoms. The Mirena is as effective as a tubal ligation.

For me, the benefits to the Mirena IUD over a tubal ligation are that I won't get my period or the PMS/PMDD as long as I'm on the Mirena. As soon as I get a tubal, I would get my (extremely heavy) period and all that goes along with it back. PMS is probably as bad as it is because of my Fibromyalgia, so this is a good way to control some symptoms that would debilitate me worse on a monthly clockwork basis.

The Mirena is much less expensive for us. I only have an office visit copay rather than a hospital visit copay. There's no recovery time for an IUD placement versus even minimal surgery recovery.

In people with Fibro, surgeries that require even general anesthesia can exacerbate symptoms for a couple of years. It takes two full years for the body to expel large amounts of anesthesia. I had breast reduction surgery in late 2008 and then in 2010 and again in 2011 I had a couple of other minor procedures. I can say that those procedures did indeed progress my disease more quickly even though the procedures were for medical purposes to improve my health (which they have... they just also had additional complications because we didn't know that it wasn't just "big breasts" but Fibro). I'm nervous now about anesthesia unless it's absolutely necessary because I know what it can do.

Those issues/exacerbations/side effects would be unlikely for most people. My best friend and a couple of other friends I know in real life up close and personal have had them done and are very thankful, but they were in a place in their lives where there was absolutely no question about whether or not they would ever want more biological children.

Are you for sure done having any more kids is the big question. I was 99% sure during my last pregnancy - enough to have it done. I had an uncomplicated 1st pregnancy, 2 miscarriages, then a complicated 4th pregnancy. Mine was done a little over 24hrs after my son was born. The OB clamped my tubes, belly button incision, and pretty quick recovery - the surgical pain only lasted a couple days but the incision pain lasted a while longer. We have 2 boys, a 4 1/2yr old with an attitude and our 11mo old who is fairly high maintenance. I KNOW we are done. Every once in awhile I get a fleeting thought of "a third would be ok", then I look at my boys and am more excited for them to outgrow each stage and move into a new one than I am for even thinking of going through pregnancy, delivery, newborn phase again. I get excited everytime I give something the baby has outgrown away :) But you have to be sure you are done. And so far, no, I have not had any issues. I am breastfeeding and have not yet had a period come back, so we'll see what happens when it does. I was always irregular due to PCOS, so that wouldn't be a big issue. I have heard some people say they get really bad cramps, but that's it.