Why do some women get their tubes tied instead of taking the Pill?

Question

I'd much rather pop a pill every day rather than having major surgery, and I'm curious why some women choose surgery instead.

Roman- I wasn't asking you if you thought contraception was ethical. I was asking women why they prefer one form of birth control over another. Now go and tidy up after your 42 children.

Answer 1

Some women experience unpleasant side effects from the Pill. The Pill is not recommended for women over age 35 or women who smoke.
When a woman is sure she does not want any (more) children, tubal ligation is a cost effective and permanent method of birth control.

Aren't you glad these choices are available for women? I am.

Answer 2

I'm now in my late 40s and had my last child over a decade ago. That would mean more than a decade of taking pills. Also, since I was 35 when my younger daughter was born, no doctor would recommend birth control pills for me. I have not had a tubal ligation but I can see why some women do it. A lot of women my age still haven't gone through menopause so they probably are still able to have children. They either have all the children they want already or they don't want to risk the serious health problems an over-40 pregnancy could cause.

Answer 3

It's actually not considered a "major" surgery. For the majority of patients, the procedure is done and the person leaves the hospital the same day, and these days, only a small incision is needed.
I am assuming that the women who get this are done having children and would prefer a more "permanant" type of birth control. Pills do have a chance of failing and pills can be on the expensive side. That being said, tubal ligation does have a chance of failure also.
I guess it boils down to the individual's needs and wants.

Answer 4

The pill isn't 100% effective (nothing but abstinence is), but surgery is the next closest thing to obtaining 100% effective birth control. (And the pill is something I could not take due to the side effects- at any dosage and every brand, they made me quite sick.) Besides, the pill (in my opinion) isn't very healthy for a woman to take, esp. long term. Anything that seriously messes with a woman's hormones runs the risk of causing cancer to the reproductive organs. My mother got breast cancer from too much estrogen exposure. It happens...not to everyone, but it happens. And, birth control pills can raise your blood pressure, increase your risk of stroke, and are even more dangerous if you smoke or you're over the age of 35. And, if you do happen to get pregnant while taking them, they can cause birth defects. I'm sure there are even more risks here...and each woman who wants to take the pill should weigh the risks and the benefits (with advice from her doctor.)

My tubes are tied because in the space of ten years I got pregnant six times, five of those times were "accidents"- while using (faithfully and carefully) a form of birth control that's supposed to be 98% effective...lol!

Answer 5

Some women are unable to take anything that's hormonally based because it can affect their moods and mental health.
Last time I went on the pill, within 5 days I was ready to kill myself. Have taken same brand years ago without any problems, but nowadays can't have depo-provera injections or any pills.
Roman, that's the silliest thing I've heard yet. I'm highly fertile and if my hubby and I didn't get this pregnancy business sorted, we would most likely be up to our 10th baby by now, and by the time I go through menopause, I'd probably have another 10. We sure as heck wouldn't be able to look after all those kids.
Didn't you ever watch Monty Python's "the meaning of life" where the catholic couple who didn't believe in contraception, the woman kept popping out kid after kid until the couple couldn't afford them anymore and they had to sell them for scientific research?
Prevention is better than cure.

Answer 6

When you already have a rather large family you don't want to risk having any more children. You may decide to have another child. I already had five so I didn't want to risk getting pregnant again when I was over forty and had a family that was exactly the size I wanted.
Despite what we are told there are side affects and health risks associated with the pill. I also felt it wasn't worth it to chance having a stroke.

Answer 7

I was already having surgery. When the doctor did my c-section he tied my tubes. It was my second child. I new I didn't want anymore and I didn't want to have to remember to take a pill every day. I didn't want the side effects of the pill.

Answer 8

The pill can be easiler forgotten, mistakes happen.. If they decide they don't want children/have already had enough children then it's a good solution.

It's horribly difficult to find a doctor that will agree to tie your tubes though.. Every single doctor I've spoken to has refusen for me.

"The pill can cause early abortions"
Omg... Is this what they teach in sex education?

Answer 9

A tubal ligation is a one-time deal and is more reliable than the Pill. I want my risk of pregnancy to be as low as possible, so I'm taking the surgery.

Answer 10

because the pill isn't 100% effective and it is a hassle to refill prescriptions and take it everyday. if you are serious about not wanting children and you know that you wont be changing your mind in the near future, getting your tubes tied is a great solution.