December 24, 2016

Laparoscopic Bilateral Salpingectomy FAQs

In October 2015 I got my fallopian tubes removed, which is called a laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy. As I'm writing this it's been 15 months since surgery, and I still get a lot of comments on my previous posts about this procedure. To make one easy-to-reference location for the most common questions I've gotten, I made this post.

Anyone is still free to post here or on any of my other posts with new questions! But now no one will have to read through dozens of comments to find out if their question has been answered.

Best of luck to anyone considering this procedure or recovering from it! I do love hearing your stories, so continue to let me know about your experience.

My experience:
About laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy:
  • What is a laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy?
    • Salpingectomy is the surgical removal of both fallopian tubes.
    • Laparoscopic refers to how the procedure is done: through a tiny incision with tools that go inside the body, rather than big cuts into muscle. Much faster and easier recovery.
    • Bilateral refers to both sides: both fallopian tubes were removed, so the procedure was done on both sides of my abdomen.
  • Who needs a laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy?
    • It's a great sterilization procedure! Removing the fallopian tubes is getting pretty darn close to making it impossible to get pregnant. 
    • If you have an ectopic pregnancy this is what you'll get to save your life.
    • I chose this procedure over a tubal ligation and essure because I wanted the most effective form of sterilization and I didn't want anything left inside me. It was the best combination of pain, recovery time, and long term effectiveness for me.
  • Why did you get fixed?
    • I don't want kids.
    • I don't want to get pregnant.

    FAQs 
General
  • Don't a lot of women regret sterilization?
    • Not as far as I'm aware. So far I sure don't!
    • From what I could find online, the women who regret sterilization tended to never want the procedure in the first place. They were coerced into it during childbirth. Many regretted it after their relationships ended and they realized they wanted more children with their new partners. 
    • I've never heard of anyone who never wanted kids regretting sterilization. Doesn't mean it never happens, just that it seems pretty rare.
  • Why not just get an IUD?
    • Because I wanted something permanent that didn't leave anything inside me.
    • Laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy is as close to being 100% risk-free as you can get. IUDs are great, but not as great as salpingectomy.
  • Do you still worry about getting pregnant?
    • Nope! It's awesome.
  • So you really don't want kids?
    • I really don't.

10 comments:

  1. Did your gain any weight since surgery?

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    1. I will admit I've gained ~5 pounds in the last year or so, but that has more to do with starting grad school while still working full time (I started about 9 months after my surgery), eating a LOT more takeout, and exercising a LOT less. The fallopian tubes don't have an impact on hormones whatsoever, so there would be no hormonal weight gain. However, if you lost weight on hormonal birth control and then stop taking it after surgery, you could gain that weight back. Something to keep in mind.

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  2. I want to thank you for sharing your experiences with your surgery and recovery. I found your articles when I was googling the procedure and I wish I could express in words how helpful it was for me. I just had my procedure today, and it was just helpful to have read your experience. (I wouldn't have known about the catheter situation and first pee would have been much more horrifying without that heads up! THANK YOU!!

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    1. Hi there, hope you're all recovered now! Glad my posts have helped. The catheter was a bit of a surprise to me, too, but I'd read it was a possibility somewhere else before, so wasn't too shocked. But it sure did hurt!

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  3. Hey! I loved your entire post on your sterilization! I had the same surgery done on Friday and I’m just going through the motions of recovery, sleeping a lot and taking it easy. I am also 30 and simply don’t want children. Just wanted to give you a high five because you are awesome!!!

    Jaimie
    zengirl521@gmail.com

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    Replies
    1. Congratulations! Hope you're all recovered now and feeling great. You are awesome!

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  4. Hey, I just wanted to say thanks to everyone for their posts. I had my procedure a week ago and recovering well. All of my friends have kids and they are good kids, but I dont want any of my own. It's nice knowing there are other women that feel the same way and I'm not wierd..lol
    Thanks ladies!

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    1. Congratulations! Glad to hear you're recovering well. You're absolutely not weird (at least not about this ;) ). It's nice to be able to borrow others kids and give them back!

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  5. Thank you so much for writing these posts. It’s so hard to find any advice or information on exactly what to expect when going for this procedure. I have 2 kids, a five year old son and a 7 week old daughter and I’m ready to move on to a life of not worrying about having any more kids, although I love both of mine and wanted them, I don’t want to go through pregnancy ever again. I have my surgery scheduled for July 2nd and I’m a lot less anxious having read your posts. And I was only anxious because I’ve never had surgery, definitely not having second thoughts about having it.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Brittany, I'm glad my experience has been helpful! It's surprising that so few women discuss this because I think this is becoming much more common among the childfree and the parents. It's a great sense of relief! I know how hard pregnancy can be and imagine it would be quite a deterrent to having lots of kids. I hope you had an easy surgery and recovery and are fully healed and enjoying the benefits of being sterile! Please feel free to comment back.

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