Ok I hope it's ok to ask this question in here...

I have stopped my BC because it makes me moody and ruins my sex drive. I have been on several different kinds and they all seem to be the same. I plan on asking my doctor about this but I thought I'd check with people who've had it done....
I'm thinking about tubal litigation. I'd like to know if it's painful and if it changes your hormones? Any negative side effects? Since it's permanent I don't want to do anything that will make me worse off. The other option is obiously for H to get a vasectomy and I don't know much about that either. He lost a testicle to cancer so he's concerned about cutting on his one left.

This is just my informed, clinical opinion, as I have had neither done, but:

Tubal ligation is very invasive and a lot more costly. It will take you longer to get over and there are risks for more complications.

Vasectomy is going to be an outpatient procedure and should be much less costly, invasive, etc. It is the safest choice.

If you are done having kids, I would have a vasectomy hands down. A few days of pain down there vs. the complications of having a tubal is worth it. I have heard stories from men ranging from no big deal to awful pain when having a vas, so it probably depends on his pain thresholds and the MD doing the procedure. Find a reputable Urologist and have him go check it out and ask any questions he wants. An OB/GYN is going to try and talk you into getting your husband to get a vas first, but he's not going to deny the procedure to you, as he is going to make money from it.

Ok that probably wasn't helpful. Sorry.

Have you considered an IUD type thing like Merina (sp?)?

It is more dependable than a vasectomy, and might be a wise choice since hubby has some issues with one - and rightly so.

You can have some irregular peiods for several months, but then everything gets better.

I had an IUD before my sons were born, back in the dinosaur age, and it really wasn't recommended for women who had no kids, but hubby and I didn't want kids right away, and the BC pills didn't agree with me. I liked it fine.

Vasectomy. Much more reversable if the decision is made later on to do so. Tubals are more invasive, and more costly. Less able to be reversed as well.

Pain level about the same.


SB

Vasectomy is the way to go. I walked in and limped out a couple hours later. I was back to work after 5 days. Mine went fine with only minor pain. Best of all no more kids in the last 7 years. Hopefully no suprises pop up.

Under normal circumstances I would say go with the V. But with your H already having lost a testicle, there is NO WAY that I would go that route!

Given the choice, and I was; I choose to get the vasectomy. For al the reasons SB said. However, I figured that the pain level and duration was less for the V.

Three days later, and lots of ice bags and painkillers, I was up and running moving about again.

The only thing I didn't care for was right before the doctor gave me the local; he said "there was going to be a little [censored]".


S&C

I will always say vasectomy. As SB said, "Much more reversable if the decision is made later on to do so". Nearly every woman I know IRL that has had a tubal now has cycle problems and hormone therapy is needed. I had a vasectomy, piece of cake!

Is there a medical reason why not?

Not sure how the IUD works. Does is use a hormone like estrogen? I figure it would have the same effect.

No, it is just a plastic thing they put in. Somehow it keeps you from getting pregnant and is 99.9% effective. The only drawback is that it makes you irregular in your monthly for the first couple of months. Then much lighter.

Here is a link to info on Mirena. It is estrogen free.

Mirena

I don't have any experince with an IUD, just wanted to supply info.

LC

Get a tubal, they are a snap now. I got mine 20 years ago and I did extensive research on it (weeks and weeks in the med shcool library near my work) before getting the 15 minute procedure. It is a same day surgery. Usually.

My friend had gotten one and told me it was no big deal. I felt I would be able to do it too.

What I found out in all my research is that the main risk is the general anesthesia (a risk in any operation).

So, I asked my Dr to do it with only local anesthetic like they do here more and more and in some other countries. Then there would be pretty much no risk. It is an office procedudure in other countries. He told me he had done it this way plenty of times. And said, fine. I would be awake but have some calming drugs to relax me.

I went in and they gave me a shot of morphine. Things were a little cloudy when I was wheeled into the OR. Then, the Dr gave me novicaine for the two tiny incisions, one thru the belly button and one down lower. When he pinched the skin, that felt like a pinch but otherwise no pain. One incision was for the light and one was for the instruments.

There was a white sheet there, and my head was lying down and I could not see anything. I was mentally prepared for every step by my "design engineer" boyfriend who developed heart monitors and had to witness them in operations to aid in his designs. He had seen dozens of these operations. The Dr talked me thru it also. He was great.

Then, they used carbon dioxide to inflate my stomach to get some room to do the procedure. This gave me a "full" feeling but was not bad. I was on oxygen so I did not worry and the nurse held my hand thru the entire 15 minute procedure and offered to go to general anesthesia should I even lift a finger to ask for it, and need it.

The Dr got in there and spotted my tubes and told me that all my organs looked good. He cauterized each tube three times (yay), I heard the machine make three "beeps" for each tube. I had asked him ahead of time to do his best work and make sure I NEVER had a pregnancy. EVER.

Then, the instruments were removed and the carbon dioxide (like "air") was let out of my stomach and tiny stitches were done on the incisions. I was wheeled into recovery. I remember being cold and they gave me a blanket. I must have slept a while but then in a couple hours or less, that same night, they wheeled me into another room where I got dressed and went to the bathroom. My boyfriend came in and cheered me up and got my clothing for me.

I was fully awake now. My boyfriend drove me home to his house and gave me some juice. I was hungry and ate some food. The carbon dioxide gas left a few "gas type pains" in my shoulders but that went away fast as the remainder of the gas dissapated. It was Friday night and the next day I called up all my girlfriends and told them the good news.... on Saturday.

I was given Tylox for pain which I really did not need pain meds since there was no pain. Just some soreness when I moved fast.

I was as happy to get this tubal as some women are to have a baby! Now I would not have to worry every time I had sex. Or use two or three BC methods to prevent pregnancy.

YAY!

Monday morning after resting all weekend I went to work like normal and I even went for my two mile walk at lunchtime. No pain.

And NO side effects from the operation. They don't touch your ovaries at all, so all your hormones are intact. This is NOT a hysterectomy where they take everything out.

It is an easy tube occlusion just to prevent pregnancy. It does not disturb hormones or anything else.

My sex life blossomed after the tubal. It was the right thing for me.

Thanks for the info. It sounds like a lot to go through. I hate surgeries. They make me sooo nervous. I prefer not to do it but if means permanent worry free sex....I'll get over it.

Ah, does the vasectomy decrease the sex drive?

Not at all. There was absolutely NO difference with my H. In fact, because all fear of pregnancy is gone and no one is ingesting hormones (i.e. the woman), it is liberating.

Many Christians would not consider an IUD an ethical choice. The Mirena seems to be different however and I have read some whitepapers etc about it.

It is very low dose of hormones and lasts for 5 years. It will sooner or later put an end to your menstral periods as well.

I got the tied tubes done. But I do not know how long the procedure lasts becasue I did it right after I had DD.

Now my pain sits that I get the baby itch and in order to get pregnante I have to spend alot of money for a reversal that might not work OR do IVF and take chances of twins. hmmm ... Ok baby itch gone lol twins... ACK...

Anyways basically like it was stated above. I wasnt put to sleep I was awake with morphine and all and they did the gas thing to the tummy. I only have one itty bitty mark at the belly button!!!

V's are better at reversal rate in the future and less costly. I should have had DH sniped...

My friend's husband had a vasectomy and it had problems. Every time he has an erection, he feels pain. That would be terrible for a man.

I guess if you want to avoid any chance of pregnancy and never have to deal with forms of birth control again, then get a tubal or let your husband get a vasectomy.

If my husband had only one ball, I would spare him from getting a vasectomy. He has been thru enough already....

Easy methods of birth control are not permanent. But a 15 minute procedure,,,is.

Faster than any dental work.

Yeah I see your point... Veg, hes probally suffered enough with having only one ball so I would say save him some grace !!!