a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
I've known for a long time that I'm not going to have kids, so for those of you that are going to reply with "oh, but you're still young. You'll change you're mind," please keep it to a minimum. I probably won't change my mind, due to a variety of effects from pregnancy, not to mention having a human being strapped to me physically, emotionally, or mentally for 18+ years.
I've been on Depo for about five years now, and haven't had any problem with it. A little bit of weight gain that could probably just as easily be blamed on my eating and exercising habits in college as on Depo. I know there's a lot of horror stories out there, but it's been extremely good to me. I don't have periods, and don't have to worry about cramps or unprotected sex with partners who've been tested for STDs.
I am, however, reaching a point where I'm starting to get curious about sterilization. What procedures are out there that take away the female body's ability to procreate, what are the costs, what are the side effects, will I have to take hormones, and most importantly, will I also not have any periods.
The periods is my primary focus, and birth control my second. I could stay on Depo for years to come, but if there's an effective surgical alternative that would stop my periods and my body's procreative abilities--that would be ideal.
Thoughts and experiences?
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
well, i'm not sure how "young" you are. but one thing that you shouldn't do is halt your period..although, really the only true way of stopping it is a hysterectomy..and you do NOT want to go there.
I would suggest getting your tubes tied. at least later on it's reversable (although it makes it harder to conceive if you want to). and no, you won't need to take hormones. it can be done laproscopically also, so very minimal scars
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
I'm thinking of having my tubes tied as well - I want to be a mother one day, but ever since I was 12 or so, I've been a firm believer in adoption. I can't imagine bringing another life into an overcrowded world and telling all those kids in orphanages that they just have to rot. Plus my mother was a labor & delivery nurse, and had three babies while I was a teenager, so I've seen enough to say I do not ever want to be pregnant!
If you live in California, look into getting a Health Access card. If you qualify, the state will give you a tubal ligation for free. Planned Parenthood can also help you out with information. I don't know why you want your periods to completely stop, but there's not a way of doing that except with hormones or a hysterectomy, and it wouldn't be safe or healthy. A tubal would be your best bet for sterilization.
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
good advice I'm sure if birth control was the main priority. but since Depo is covering that my main priority is to move on to something that will keep me from having my periods.
Why would I want to stop my periods? Are you crazy? Cramps, blood, mood swings...not my idea of a good time, and while some people think "it's unnatural to not have periods" my gyno had a good rejoiner, "our bodies were built to sustain a baby each year to increase the chances of some of our offspring surviving."
I definitely don't want to have a baby every year, and so not having a period works out okay for me too. I mean, except for the occasional hormonal spike that makes women super horny during their period, I never experienced anything good about it.
You see, it's really a matter of surgery, or staying on depo for at least the next ten years, and as good as it's been to me, if there's a permanent solution that does the same thing without me having to freak out over every new sensational piece of news about the horrible Depo effects-- then I'd like to do that.
So, as far as a hysterectomy, would I have to go on hormonal treatment?
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
Yes, you would have to undergo hormonal treatment if you got a hysterectomy. I knew a girl who lost her uterus at age 20, and she was the most psychotic bitch in the world. She says that hitting menopause so suddenly was extremely traumatic, and she gets even more psychotic without them. Having a hysterectomy also make you more pront to osteoporosis in the future.
I've known some people who got clips around their tubes. Perhaps you can look into that.
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
I'm right with you about not ever bearing children. I stopped getting Depo because of this:
Women should not use the shot continuously for more than two years unless no other method is right for them.
* Women who use DMPA may have temporary bone thinning. It increases the longer they use DMPA. Bone growth begins again when women stop using the shot. Whether or not there is a complete recovery of bone mass is unknown.
* Whether or not temporary bone thinning leads to greater risk of bone fracture from osteoporosis much later in life is also unknown.
To protect your bones, get regular exercise and get extra calcium and vitamin D — either through your diet or by using supplements.
~plannedparenthood.org
I plan to get a Hysteroscopic Tubal Sterilization one of these days. I'd still get periods. The only way not to get periods is to have a hysterectomy, and you don't want that.
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
if you get your tubes tied you'll still have periods. You could get a Mirena IUD and it might stop them or reduce the bleeding. I have had one for 3 years and at first I bled a lot (cleaning out???) but then pretty much stopped for a while. now I spot some. It just depends on your body. I would consider my tubes tied but I've heard that you can have hormonal problems from it and I alreayd have those so don't want to push my luck. Amazing you can get it done for free in California. That is great!
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
as for the bone thinning, my gyno through planned parenthood told me that a new study had come up proving that there was no basis for the two year thing about calcium. Foolishly I didn't ask for the cited source, but I'm not as freaked out about the bone thinning because
I don't drink
I don't smoke
and I gave up drinking soda which in the amount that I was drinking was probably more harmful to my bones than depo.
However, when I go back to that planned parenthood, I'll try to track down the doctor's source. I remember her very clearly telling me this fact because I had been on it for five years, and we were wondering if the two year thing was not supported what the five year thing was.
Now, don't pelt me with bananas since I don't have a source; it's merely one thing I'm willing to go on for some reason.
I guess I'll just have to wait for a better permanent solution.
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
Oh how I am in a similiar situation as yourself. I'm only on Depo because I'm under the age of 30.... and alot of doctors won't allow me to "get my tubes tied" until I am 30 years of age or over. I also enjoy the no period ;D been a real help in re: work at the very least. :laughing: Plus I have experienced noting terribly wrong with taking Depo for over 2 years.
I wish there was a solution for those like yourself and myself... we don't want children.. have made the very conscious decision to not have children... won't be changing our minds any time soon (my reasons are environmental mainly).
Anyway... best of luck.. I wish I knew something that took care of birth control as well as stopped periods... but I do not. Just wanted to say that there are others similiar to you "out there" ;D
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
yeah, i heard that if you haven't had at least one child they won't give you a histerectomy or whatever.... too bad, because I'm stuck on Depo, too, and it's making me fat like a big fat pig
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
^ Well, one of my friends just turned 31 and she had her third baby. She didn't want more than two, but they refused to tube-tie her because at the time she had her second baby, she was under 30. Needless to say, they had an "oops" and 18 months after the second baby came the third.
I, personally, think that it's wrong for anyone to tell others what they can or can not do with their bodies. If you don't want a child, they tie your tubes. No if, ands, or buts. They need to make sure that the people are completely aware of all of the facts, consequences, and side-effects, etc...but never should deny anyone that basic right. The right to reproduce (or not to) should be the individuals choice...
Anywho...you should NOT stop your periods until your body is ready to do that on it's own. The periods are your body's way of regulating the hormonal balance. Sure, you can take hormone therapy, but hormone therapy is synthetic and has not been proven in long term cases. In fact, there was a new study that came out that said certain hormone therapy was actually DANGEROUS (like you, I don't remember the source, but I'll try to find it). Putting anything synthetic into your body is going to have negative consequences. Please think this through fully before you commit to anything.
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
you don't neccessarily have to take hormones if you have a hysterectomy. there are several different types of hysterectomy- an oovarohysterectomy, which removes the ovaries as well as the uterus, will cause menopause. however, hysterectomies are usually performed in the event of serious health problems (cancers, severe fibroid tumors, etc.) and not purely for birth control. if you have no abnormalities in the ovaries, there is no reason to remove them, and without removal, assuming that they are not damaged in surgery, you will not undergo an early menopause due to the surgery. however, hysterectomies are very controversial precisely because they are major surgeries with potentially devastating side effects, and many women who undergo them are not educated about the full consequences of the surgery, or even informed that they have other options. loss of sexual function is one of the most frequently reported adverse side effects. many women experience loss of desire, inability to become aroused, pain with intercourse, non-sexual genital pain, and loss of the ability to acheive orgasm. if you really want to eliminate your periods, depo is still probably your best option.
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
Okay dont hate me ... but a hysterectomy is NOT a light surgery. Im not even talking pain here.
To get all your female parts removed , throwing yourself into menopausal hell...for what...no kids?
I mean to each his own. I've had kids. I can tell you how bad that hurts. I can tell you how shitty being young and hving menopause is from a friend at 24 that had her's.
If you dont want kids ... get tied. get on seasonal... use the patch even, without taking a week off. I just find it insane to get your organs removed ! complications..scarring... agh way too much drama to skip a fucking period.
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
Er, getting a hysterectomy isn't elective surgery. You can't just go, gee I don't want kids and i'm sick of my period so just yoink out my uterus m'kay...
Any doctor who WOULD do it wouldn't be someone you'd want fishing around in your guts if you know what I mean.
Now a days even if you have a medical reason to warrant a hysterectomy doctors try to get away with just a partial. It's a serious surgery that can really screw with you. It isn't just hormonal issues you deal with but it also impacts your sexuality from a purely physical standpoint. Many women who have complete hysterectomies find intercourse to be uncomfortable to flat out painful.
PS - I had a tubal ligation a couple years back and have had no negative side effects from it what so ever.
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
Quote:
Originally Posted by VenusGoddess
Anywho...you should NOT stop your periods until your body is ready to do that on it's own.
I think Venus is right, however, perhaps if you stop your period permanently you could take an anti osteoperosis supplement like Boneva or something similar. I know nothing about it and have only seen the commercials, but you know what I'm getting at. I mean, if you absolutely have decided to go for it...
Re: a form of sterilization that will halt my periods too
Obviously I don't want to go to hell and back if I already have an option like Depo that is serving me well enough. I didn't know all the bad stuff about hysterectomies, so it's good that this stuff came out. I just wish there was a viable alternative, like donating my fertility to a silly boy and let HIM deal with it.