[Wednesday L.F.]

I’ve been talking to a lot of women who tell me their doc still asks a zillion questions aboit their husband when they ask for birth control, a tubal ligation, etc. I’d love to get input. When you ask your doc for birth control do they:

[Alison H.]

My daughter (unmarried, single, early 20s) recently got a tubal removal with no push-back at all. Granted, the health system her doctor is in isn't run by Catholic hospitals so that may have had something to do with it. They were very encouraging about the whole thing, made sure she knew the repercussions and risks, et al.

As an aside, they'd been scheduling a LOT of them... her surgery was scheduled like two months out before she had it done.

[open leaf]

I’ve definitely experienced this—when I asked about birth control, the doctor asked about my relationship, whether my partner agreed, and even questioned if I’d “change my mind.” It felt invasive and unnecessary. I think decisions about your body should be respected without having to justify them through someone else. Curious to hear how others have been treated too.

[Alison H.]

I’ve definitely experienced this—when I asked about birth control, the doctor asked about my relationship, whether my partner agreed, and even questioned if I’d “change my mind.” It felt invasive and unnecessary. I think decisions about your body should be respected without having to justify them through someone else. Curious to hear how others have been treated too.

That's pretty similar to what my daughter went through a couple years ago when she was seeking to get back on birth control. (And also why she eventually left that medical/hospital system...)

They would not prescribe birth control pills to her, despite her having been ON them in the past (as a teen, for hormonal PCOS-related reasons). She was 21, a fully grown woman, and they refused to prescribe BC. Like... why??? It had no medical basis at all. If it had, we would have understood... if it was risky because of health issues, or would cause problems because of some other condition... but no. There was no basis of the sort.

That's a big part of the reason why she got the tubal removal under a different (non-religious healthcare system); she didn't want to lose the opportunity to take control of her own reproductive life... I get it. 100%. Supported it fully, too.

I'm with you... decisions about YOUR body should be respected, without needing to be justified or being granted permission from someone else.