Birth Control: Should I Choose Permanent Contraception or Something Else?

Help! Should I Get My Tubes Tied?

Rebecca Woolf is 6 months pregnant with twins but currently contemplating whether or not she should consider getting her "tubes tied" after her babies are born... She's tried birth control. Hated it. She's tried an IUD. Hated it. Is this her only resort?

How do you feel about permanent contraception? What would you choose (if you didn't want anymore children? Tell us your thoughts!

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Showing the Latest of 49 Comments

Caroline162
7 months ago

I figure for 14 years, I have been responsible for birth control and carrying/birthing our (soon to be 4) children. I have NO problem AT ALL making my husband get a vasectomy. I didn't give him a choice. In fact, I think I said something to the effect of, "if you don't get a vasectomy, I am going to give you one with a kitchen knife." And actually I DO think I can deny him the privilege of falling in love with and procreating with another woman - since he promised to be married to me for the rest of our lives. Now, YES, I do understand there is a chance I could die suddenly tomorrow, and maybe maybe he would marry someone else in time to want children with her (although that seems far fetched for a 45 year old widower with 4 little kids)... but it's those kind of crazy circumstances for which vasectomies are reversible.

Annie123
7 months ago

If you hated the pill and the mirena IUD, it seems like you have a problem with hormonal contraception. I was exactly the same, I even stopped the pill for a while and that's how my second was conceived :) Then FINALLY I found the perfect, non-hormonal contraception: a copper IUD. No more low libido, yeast infections, headaches, constant bad mood... it's not an exaggeration to say it saved my marriage. The IUD lasts 5-10 years and there's no permanent damage made to your body.

Jen L.
7 months ago

I had my tubes tied last November. It was the greatest decision I've ever made. Easy recovery, teeny, tiny scar, no side effects. LOVE. IT.

Erin E
8 months ago

Rebecca, I frequently enjoy your blog and think you are a smart, talented, lovely gal and a wonderful mother. I understand the hesitancy over permanent birth control - my husband got a vasectomy after our second child was born, and we had those lingering questions up until it happened.....but your husband's hesitation seems to be over whether he might want to have children with someone else? What? Did I misinterpret that? Take one for the team, buddy!

Mercy
8 months ago

Getting your tubes tied is NOT permanent...if you don't want it to be. There is reversal surgery. Now that is not to say that all reversal surgerys are successful. But keep in mind there is no guarentee that one would get pregnant again without it too. There is the condom stand by of course. I don't really trust those as a sure way to stay unpregnant lol. The same for vasectomies...they can be reversed. Also the eggs or sperms can be extracted by medical means & re introduced by several methods to achieve pregnancy should one choose. There are no absolutes here. There doesnt need to be the angst attached to it that alot of men & women exibit, lol.

Jacqueline
8 months ago

its ur dessision no one elses but if you want my opinion its not fair

KellyMom
8 months ago

As a mom of 4 I made my husband do it. I had the pregnancies, and worried about the birth control most of the time so it was his turn. WAY less invasive, way less issues down the line (tubal ligation can cause issues for some women) 99% effective, and he knew 4 was enough for him no matter what the future holds.

Mr. Lady
8 months ago

I had a full hysterectomy (because I had to) and I was SO EXCITED to never have to worry about birth control again and now I am SO SAD that I can't every have another baby. Which makes me even more glad that I had it done, because I am pretty sure my body would totally declared mutiny and get knocked up again, given the chance. All of that is the backwards way of saying DO IT.

kendra.moore
8 months ago

I think that having your Tubes tied, is a good thing, if you are 4 sure that you dont ever want anymore kids than you currently have. My mom did back 18 years ago and said that it had its ups and downs, but technology has changed so much over the years. I think now they can even tie them and then untie them if for some reason you wanted to have another child. I also would like to say that I respect you for making the decision to figure it out. Most people would just let it happen over and over with no end in sight, even if they didnt want or couldnt afford more.

teeladog
8 months ago

I had my tubes tied after my second child because I was (and still am) absolutely, positively sure that I am done having babies. Even if something were to happen to my husband and I remarried, I still am DONE. DONE, DONE, DONE, DONE, DONE. No question. However, if you are not that sure then I wouldn't do anything permanent. However, if you are sure, it is a lot easier than many of the other alternatives.

Help! Should I Get My Tubes Tied?

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