[punzelda]

I'm 40 and I've been on the pill more or less constantly since I was 18. I know I don't want kids and I want to go off of birth control. I've been researching my options, and, frankly, they're all scary when you read about the effects from real people!

Ablation - no libido, spotting, early menopause
Ligation - cramps, heavy bleeding, increased PMS
Essure - pregnancy, spotting

I'd love to hear from women who could recommend one of these procedures if you've had it done. Could you let me know how long your recovery was and what you think the pros and cons are? Many thanks for sharing--it's so helpful when you're trying to make a difficult decision.

[kira]

I cannot recommend one but I can recommend against essure. Check the very long thread on here about problems and various other individual threads. I researched it and it's far too controversial. The worst is that when people complain of it causing pain or other problems doctors don't believe them. They do nothing or put the person on pain killers for the rest of their life because they say they don't know the source of the pain. Some people have had doctors refuse to take them back out and turn it in to a tubal ligation when asked.

Personally we went with a vasectomy for my husband since it is much less likely to cause problems than any method of sterilizing me. Most people with side effects from it are psychological problems which we knew would not be an issue.

[WildChild]

Ablation is does not cause early menopause, nor does it affect your libido at all. I had it done 3 years ago.

Removal of the ovaries which produce hormones, just like a man's testicles do, will cause early menopause. Ablation removes the uterine lining and seals the uterine walls, it doesn't have anything to do with ovaries. Ablation is not considered a method of conception control, in fertile women it can result in higher rates of tubal pregnancy. But past 40, with reduced fertility, it may pretty much eliminate the possibility of pregnancy but this is highly individual.

Tubal ligation can be major surgery depending on the type. If blood flow to the ovaries is stopped that will affect your hormone levels and put you into early menopause. This is why essure is promoted but it seems to be Very problematical.

If you are in a LTR, talk to your partner about getting a vasectomy. This is a much safer and more effective method than a tubal. In the meantime have you considered a non hormonal IUD?

[Guest]

I agree with WC.

If you're in a LTR then ask your partner to get snipped, as I've heard it's much easier on both people.

I am in a LTR and am considering it myself.

I can't speak about any of the three things you mentioned, obviously, but I can tell you that one of the reasons I am considering a vasectomy is to eliminate the risk for my SO.

[ItsASecret]

I've been researching my options, and, frankly, they're all scary when you read about the effects from real people!

Watch the areas you research, bad/terrible side effect which no doubt do occur in some people are not the case for the majority of cases which is why they are considered rare side effects on any actual real data on the method in question. Some sites are devoted to making a bad name for rare side effects because that group of people were the unfortunate ones that had the side effects, that is not the case of all and something should not be turned away because "IUDsarebad.com" type websites say they had bad experiences...some methods are in the best interest of certain people because of various circumstances.

Anything put into you is going to result in spotting, could be all the time, could be once, could be so minimal that it is hardly noticed...but everything is going to result in spotting. You stick a foreign object up there or use a pill your body is going to be thinking what in the world is that and it is going to have a response which is often spotting. Hormonal, IUDs, coils, tubals, whatever it is there is going to be some form of response.

No method is going to 100% without a doubt result in anything but birth control, what the item/pill/procedure is made for....birth control. If a side effect occurs then it is a side effect but it is not predictable no matter how many internet blogs or friends say otherwise. Everything, absolutely everything relating to side effects will be individual.

I think the best method without any real concerning procedures would be a tubal or vasectomy. Either or will result in a more permanent birth control without anything more than a short surgery and lesser pain afterward.