Tubal Ligation... - Marion,IA

Your mom and your sister are misinformed :) tubals are performed ALL THE TIME ... with and without a c-section.

My mom had hers I think about 15 years after she had her last child ... I think. It might have been longer than that.

I had mine done the day after having my youngest son, vaginally. For me I had a few days (maybe a week or so) of abdominal muscle sorness. Like I'd done WAY too many situps, kind of soreness. I think the next day after the tubal was the worst though. Painful, but not unmanageable. And I was back to my regular activities (with an infant, a 3 year old and a 5 year old) within a couple of days ... but just with that soreness.

It didn't affect my periods that I can tell and it didn't affect my mom's either. I have always been irregular and she was always regular, that didn't change for either of us after a tubal. I do know it can affect them, but that isn't common.

Yes vasectomies are less invasive and both tubals and vasectomies have a certain failure rate. I chose a tubal because *I* did NOT want to be pregnant again .... EVER. It wasn't just a "we're done having kids" thing ... it was a "I AM NEVER DOING THIS AGAIN" thing LOL

One suggestion though ... ask to have it done with a spinal block or epidural rather than under general anesthesia. One poster was right ... the biggest risk comes from going under. If your doc will do it with a spinal or epidural ... go with that.

Good luck and risk free sex ROCKS :)

Mine was done about 6 weeks after the vaginal birth of my 4th child. He did it through my belly button, I can't find a scar if I tried. My tummy was sore for 3 or 4 days.

Now - since that surgery, my periods have been heavier and more crampy than before. My problem is that I was 40 when I had it, so I don't know if the period changes are due to being older or the tubal. But it was worth it to not have to worry about birth control!

One other small thing to think about. Any time there is surgery done, your body produces scar tissue. When it is abdominal surgery, at times the scar tissue will grow and bind things together in there, and sometimes it takes years for it to happen. I don't think it is all that common, but my mom had to have follow up surgeries many years after a hysterectomy to cut out scar tissue. Of course, this was in the day that you were cut from sternum to pubic bone for a hysterectomy.

You certainly aren't "the only one!" I had my tubes tied the day after a vaginal birth, and so did my sister-in-law. I have two friends who had it done after a c-section, but they were both planning on it before they knew about the need for a c-section. Everyone I know who got a tubal, did so because THEY were done having kids. I couldn't predict the future between my husband and my self (him passing away, us getting divorced, ect.) but I knew that *I* was done being pregnant, no matter what happened. The women I know who chose to get their tubes tied did it for the same reason. As I understand it, tubal ligation is the second most common form of b/c in the US!

As for recovery time, I remember that it took me about 3-4 days to be back to 100%, but I was also recovering from giving birth. (I heal fast!) My periods were heavier and my cramps were a bit worse for the first year or so afterward. My friends all said that they had the same experience. Other than that, none of us have noticed any other side effects or changes.

Good luck! It's really not that bad of an experience, especially given the benefits of never having to worry about an unplanned pregnancy again!

I had a tubal, however it was in conjunction with a c-section. At least I can tell you that my cycle has been normal since then, even easier! I had no cramps whatsoever. This might not be true for all cases, but it was a cinch for me.

I do, however, have a cousin that had the procedure done some time after having her last child. They made a tiny incision just above her belly button. From what she shared with me, the discomfort was minimal, and recovery time was pretty much non-existant.

Lastly, you are SO not crazy! It was an easy decision for us to make, obviously, since I was having a c-section anyway. Honestly, I didn't want to have to make my husband go through with a vasectomy, even though it's a simple procedure. I've been through 2 pregnancies, births, c-sections -- it's no big deal for us women to do it!

Good luck with your decision. Hopefully your family doesn't come down on you too hard and comes to understand your point of view. :o)

MY experience is 27 years old...so I don't know how valid it is today. After the birth of our 3rd child in 1983 we agreed that we did not want further children and I had an elective tubal ligation on the day following our daughters birth. (It was a vaginal birth,not a C Section...there is no connection between a tibal ligation and having a C Section that I know of!). It was done with a very VERY tiny little incision right at my belly button and other than a little bit of muscle soreness, I really had no recovery issues at all. I am pretty sure that it has become even less invasive in the past 27 years...and I would think that other than the incision site being sore ( I would say it was like you had suddenly started a really active exercise program and your muscles were complaining...that kind of soreness!). I would think you will be fine after a couple of days. The only real issue that I can think of would be picking up your children...it might be uncomfortable for a week or so!!

You are not the only one. I had an elective tubal less than a year ago about 4 months after a vaginal birth.

Recovery was fine. I did hurt for longer than I thought, but it was not a severe pain. I was just shocked that there could be such lengthy (10 days) time period of pain when you leave the operating room with two band aids as the only evidence that you had surgery.

As to your question about menstrual cycle, it's hard for me to say because I had been on hormonal birth control for about 20 years (except when pregnant) so my cycle was very regular, too, but who knows what my real cycle would have been like. Anyway, I seem to get my period about every 21-28 days or so now, but because I have no concerns about pregnancy and don't have difficult periods, I don't really keep track.

I had my tubes tied after have 3 children vaginally. Like you I was ready to be done having children. The procedure is done on an out patience basis and while that night was a bit rough the next day I went back to work with very little pain or discomfort. They do give you pain medication in case you are in discomfort from the procedure. My mentrual cycle didn't change at all and was regular as clockwork. A lot of "older" generation think that it is the man's responsible to take care of things once a couple is done having children. I felt that since it was my choice that I should have it done. I would have your husband or someone to help you at least for the night you come home and the next day if you need it but I was up and around like normal the next day with very little discomfort. Good Luck

PS... I read a lot of replies to your question and the majority of them had the surgery shortly after having their children. Yes I can imagine that they would be sore because your are sore after giving birth and then surgery on top of that would cause additional soreness. In my case I waited until I was completely healed..about 10 weeks when I had my procedure done. While their is always the risk of having general anesthesia, there is always a risk with any type of surgery wether you have it or your husband has it done with a local. The decision as to who should have it done is between you and your husband. Do your homework about your Dr and facility that you are having the procedure at and you should have no issues. And of course, be sure that you are done having children. Wether you or your husband have it done it is a permament decision and hard to reverse.

I had my tubes tied 3 years ago - plenty of people still do it! I had it done laproscopically (2 small incisions that I can't even see any more) as an outpatient procedure on a Friday morning and I went back to work Monday. For a couple of days it was pretty sore - felt like I had done about 1000 sit-ups!! If you plan on having help for a couple of days that would be good. After a week or so I was back to normal. It will be hard to pick up your little ones those first couple of days - my kids were a little older when I had it done so I didn't have that issue. Good luck!

I just want to let you know that I was completely on board with having a tubal ligation after my second was born but changed my mind after doing research. I thought it was a simple, painless, routine procedure, it's not; Although many women are happy they had it many others have had problems after having it (not to mention some of them reversed them because they changed their mind and wanted more children afterwards).
Just my two cents I'm not trying to steer you one way or the other just to let you know here's one mamma who changed her mind after doing more research about it (we are planning #3 for next year anyways so in my specific case, it would have been a bad decision).
Good luck in whatever you decide, and congrats on your baby girl!

My cousin had her tubal with a virginal delivery. I ended up having mine with my c-section, however, since I wasn't 100% sure at first my doctor wanted me to wait a month or two after I had my last child. Since my baby could have been over 10 lbs they let me have the c-section (I wanted one, had 2 vaginal births). My OB didn't deliver my son since my water broke at midnight so the doctor on call did. I said I wanted it and sign the papers to have it done. I should have listened to my doctor, because I have many of times wanted another child.

One thing I can tell you to expect with tubal is HEAVIER periods. I have really bad cramps the first day and sometimes first two days of my period now.

I think part of the reason most women do the surgery when they have a c-section is because that way they don't have to get "opened up" again. The vasectomy is a much less invasive surgery and less expensive which would also be why more couple choose it. We, too, are done having biological children, but we opted for the vasectomy. I would have had tubal ligation had we needed to do a c-section with my last delivery, but that didn't happen. The men's recovery is also quicker because they aren't having what's considered major surgery.
If you and your husband are comfortable with your decision, don't let anyone else's opinions change it. I'm sure there are plenty of women who have had it done not in conjuction with a c-section, but it's just not something you'd talk about in normal day-to-day conversation.

You could also consider "essure". http://www.essure.com/

It's a supposedly less invasive process and less recovery. Spring coils are inserted at the ends of your fallopian tubes by way of going up into your vagina. Scar tissue heals over the coils, "blocking the exits", so to speak. My boss had it done last week. She was out Friday and Monday and back to work Tuesday. She said it went great. As far as I can see, you would never know she had just been through "surgery". And it is supposedly every bit as permanent and preventative as ligation or vasectomy.

First of all I had my tubes tied during a c-section and not outside of it. I kind-of regret doing it and not becau se I want more children. My cycle has been pretty messed up since. I am super heavy and clotty. I was not like this before having it done. I also have spotting right around the time I should be ovulating each month for about a week. I had a friend who also had it done at the same time as a c-section and she is having isues with hers too.
The thing with a c-section is that it is a major surgery if you have it done in the hospital. This is why the man usually has it done because theirs is an office procedure. However, there is a new woman's procedure that is also an office procedure. During this procedure there are little things inserted into your tubes that cause you to become infertal. You may want to check into this.
Also if you are planning on having a surgical procedure done I would not expect your husband to go back to work in a few days. This is a major sugery and you have two small children at home.
Good luck.

They do a lot of new things now since I had mine. I know back when my kids were born men would get vasectomies because it was a less invasive surgery and that is why your mom and sister are probably shocked. Now days it is not being cut open but small incisions. Somethings to check into is how it will effect your body. Someone once asked me if I ever noticed that most women who have their tubes tied end up having an hystrectomy farther down the road. Now I don't know if there is a connection or if it is because of the old way of doing it with major surgery but it is something I would certainly question the doctor about. Otherwise find out the recovery time for you having it vs your husband and go with the less stressful one since you will be dealing with two small children while recovering.

K. - I see you have alot of answers already but wanted to share my experience with you. People do choose the tubal as permanent birth control, but it's not necessarily what you'd expect. I had a tubal almost 10 yrs ago after a vaginal delivery. They gave me valium and morphine for the procedure - I was very nervous and it was extremely painful afterwards for at least a week -- I do have a low threshold for pain, but in my experience I'd rather give birth several times before doing a tubal. You cannot go from laying to sitting or sitting to standing without being very careful and it's painful to move. My cycle wasn't affected, but it did affect me emotionally later -- second guessing my decision (volunteered w/my husband's urging and we've been divorced 7 yrs now) and the inability to ever conceive again. I'd check w/your Dr on ability to hold and carry your younger child and how long you'd be unable to do so -- i could hold my son but he was newborn. I don't recall holding my older daughter unless it was on my lap very carefully. I've also developed endometriosis in the past few years(developed from scar tissue & the only scarring I've had is from the tubal) - it's been very painful, stressful & frusterating to treat. I had to have laproscopic surgery to scrape it out and it may still come back and I may end up getting a hysterectomy. I am only 33!!
I think the vasectomy has a lot fewer long term side effects and is easier which is probably why your mom is under the impression that the men and not women have the procedure done.
I hope this information helped you; I'm sure it's not what you wanted to hear a week before your surgery but nobody told me the bad side of it! Although my Dr did warn me and was very snide about the pain afterwards - he actually said "I told you so!" Please feel free to email if you have other questions...best of luck and remember what you're doing is permanent and you never know what tomorrow will bring!!

Your mother and sister are wrong! Yes, it's usually the man who has surgery because it is much less invasive and recovery is quicker. Since your doctor scheduled you for surgery having a tubal ligation without a Cesarean is obviously done. I've known several women who have said that they were going to have a tubal ligation later when they were sure they didn't want more children. They expected to have it done without a Cesarean. I've also known women who had a tubal ligation after vaginal birth. I suspect that the majority of tubal ligations are not done during a Cesarean.

Perhaps they're thinking that it would be better if your husband had a vasectomy. I agree with that idea for the reason that you will have pain and discomfort for much longer than he would have it. I don't remember length of time for a tubal ligation recovery but I've worked with several men who've had vasectomies and tho they were babies about it for a couple of days they were fully recovered in a week or two.

I don't remember if this will involve general anesthesia. If it does I'd really recommend having your husband have a vasectomy. General anesthesia in its self is a higher risk than local anesthesia. Also general anesthesia takes several weeks to several months from which to recover. It saps energy.

I think that you will be unable to lift your babies for a couple of weeks. And you will be facing the possibility of scar tissue that could cause some difficulty. Did you discuss the pros and cons with your doctor? If not, I suggest that you do so before surgery.

It's good to ask for personal experience. Add medical information to that and you'll be able to make a totally informed choice.

People still get their tubes tied, but it isn't as common. Vasectomies are safer and less expensive. Also the risks are a lot lower. After a vasectomy, a man is laid up for a couple days, where a woman is laid up for a longer period of time.
My husband couldn't bear the thought of a vasectomy, and I didn't want to get my tubes tied. I opted for the Essure procedure and am sooo happy I did. Look into it. I experienced zero pain and I was able to carry on with my normal life the very next day.

Check it out:
http://www.essure.com/Home/Understanding/OverviewofEssure...

I had the Essure done last Sept. and my youngest child is 15! It does NOT have to be done along with birth or c-section and is a very accepted form of birth control. I would recommend the Essure as it is the least invasive and no recovery time is needed. It can be done on an outpatient basis right in the doctors office. A friend of mine had one done just a cpl of weeks before I had mine done and she told me that she felt the same right then as she did before she went in, no change at all in anything, no pain, nothing. It was the same with mine. With the Essure though, you do have to go back in in 3 months time to be sure that the tubes are scared completely shut. Prior to surgery though, they will give you a shot of depo to protect you from getting pg while the Essure procedure is healing (scaring your tubes shut). It is required by law that you wait a month to get this done (just as it is for a tubal ligation) but it is well worth it as there is no recovery time needed and your body does the work naturally. My periods are the same as they ever were, no interuption, no problems, they only difference is that I know I can't get pg anymore and I'm glad for that!!

My daughter is now 10 years old. When she was 2.5 years old, my husband and I both knew something was "different" about her (we discovered when she was 5 years old that she has Sensory Processing Disorder). Because a child with this type of disorder is like taking care of three children (not to mention throwing in the husband, the dog, the cat, the aquarium people, the housework, taking care of the house/property, the need to work...you get the picture), we decided that one child was enough/more than we could handle. So I decided to have my tubes tied. I had been on the Mirena IUD but was having complications from that. Since I was the one who was having so many issues/complications with female stuff, it was a no-brainer for me to have the tubal done (high-risk pregnancy, preeclampsia, post-partum depression). It also took a load off my mind, since I'm the one who carries the baby, and I wasn't interested in having another.

I had it done at the same time I had an internal hemorrhoid taken care of. Actually, I had some issues with the hemorrhoid surgery that I don't remember anything/any problems with the tubal. I healed very quickly from both surgeries.

In June 2008 I had a NovaSure Ablation performed after I began having lots of issues with heavy bleeding, clotting, and very, very short periods. Again, I also had a laposcopy done at the same time to make sure my female organs were good. Recovery from that surgery was very swift, with no problems, and to this day I have no period. I still had a period after the tubal; I found that the tubal really didn't affect my period at all.

I say, it's no one's business but you and your husband as to how you handle your birth control. Are your mom and sister going to step in and offer monetary support if you have a "surprise" baby? Unless they're willing to offer up their time, emotional support, and money (for an unplanned baby), then they have no business butting in on what should be a very private decision between you and your husband. No one even knew I'd had a tubal until years after the fact. It's no one's business to know unless you tell them. And it's no one's business weighing in on which of you should have the surgery. That's between you and your husband.

I personally had the laposcopy done because of all the issues I'd been having. I wanted to make sure I had no fibroids, tumors, Endometriosis, etc., which I didn't. I happen to think having a tubal is better for the body because then you have no need to take synthetic hormones (birth control pills) to regulate your cycle/prevent pregnancy. I don't think synthetic hormones are good for the body. As for hysterectomies...I think they're done on a way greater scale than they need to be done. If people would adopt an entirely new lifestyle (organic food, no processed foods, grass-fed animals, no chemicals/pesticides, seeing a Naturopathic doctor, getting off prescription drugs), I think you would see a drastic reduction in all surgeries, including hysterectomies.

I had a tubal after my second baby, because my husband and I decided two was enough! I did not have a c-section, and the tubal was done the day after I gave birth. Recovery time---I don't think I really needed it. My doctor said to keep up with the tylenol/advil regimin (sp?) so I did for a day, maybe. But I felt no pain, and was up taking care of the baby and my
3 year old and had no problems whatsoever.

My period came back with a vengence! It was very heavy---and that's probably because I was on birth control before which makes periods less heavy. I was sick of it, so I got the mirena and now, I have no period. I guess I'm double protected from getting pregnant, too!

My mom had a tubal (and no c-section) and I also have a good friend who had a tubal (no c-section) just a few months before me.

Do what's right for you! My husband and I are happy with our decision.

What about Essure? Have you talked to your doctor about that? I think it can be done in the office and has a shorter recovery time than a regular tubal. I wanted Essure a few years ago, and my doctor talked me into a Mirena IUD instead. I'm not really sure why he did that, but I have been happy with the decision. I am almost 47 and have two healthy kids so future fertility wasn't really the issue.

Hi K.,

To me that is just a bunch of BS. Sorry, but that is how I feel. I had 2 children, 10 years apart. When I was pregnant with my son, me and my husband had decided that I would have this done. I knew I was done with having kids. I had a normal delivery and the next day I had my tubes tied. I did not have a C-section. When I discussed my decision with my Dr. he said it would be easier on me and my body to have it done right away if that was my decision. Since my body was already healing from the pregnancy. My stomach was sore for a few days, but I don't remember it really taking that long. Getting in and out of bed was the hardest, since the incision is right by the belly button. I would just take it easy for a few days and not vacuum. It does use your stomach believe it or not. As far as how it affects the menstrual cycle, I am not sure. I did breast feed and didn't get my period until he was about 16 months old. But breast feeding can do that. If this is what you feel is right for you and your family, do it. Everyone has opinions about what is right and wrong. You need to do what is right for you. Since you will be having this done not after having given birth, it may take a little longer to heal, or you might notice it more then I did. I had problems with my period before my son was born. Since I have gotten it back, I haven't had any problems. Good luck! I wish you the best!

i had a tubal at the age of 23-8 months after my son was born-they made me wait because i was so young-but we had one of each and i was real tired of bc..its a personal choice-not your families.and no it doesnt have to be done with c section-had both my 12 pound babies natural.i had very little pain from the tubal-iwas up an at it the next morning.i have only one little scar on my belly button,thats it.loved the freedom from bc.i was like clockwork before an after.i ended up having a full hysterectomy 12 yrs ago-nothing to do with the tubal..good luck...

Have you checked out the Essure permanent birth control procedure? It's a 10 minute outpatient procedure, and is much safer, easier, and cheaper than a tubal ligation. Check out the website: www.essure.com

My husband and I are done having children after this one is born, and I was going to have a tubal ligation done during my c/s - I have now changed my mind and am not going to do it. I will go back in a few months (after I am fully healed from my c/s) and have the Essure procedure done instead. I am concerned about the side effects of a full tubal ligation as I have a history of problems.

Good luck to you!