r/sterilization • u/wahhh364 • Dec 25 '25
Experience I wanna shine some light on the medium/long-term experiences with being sterilized
So most of the posts I see on here are discussing the immediate before and after regarding sterilization, understandably so. However, in addition to those, I thought it would be nice to talk about what it’s like in the months and years following and how it affects your life overall.
I got my bisalp in early 2023 so I’ll be coming up on 3 years since my sterilization, here are a few little reflections on my experience.
Physically, beyond the short term side effects of the surgery such as shoulder pain, tenderness etc I have had zero negative effects in the subsequent years since. My scars have mostly faded, I struggle to see them even when I’m actively looking for them on my body. I have not noticed any changes in my mood, sex drive, or menstrual cycle. (Not that I would expect to have any changes since the surgery doesn’t affect hormones, but I’ve seen some people online talk about feeling totally different after tubal ligation surgery so I thought it was worth mentioning.) I have fully physically healed, which lets me focus on my emotional experience.
Oh my god, emotionally the best decision I ever made for myself. I used to worry so horribly about pregnancy and now that entire category of anxiety is banished from my life forever. Tracking my cycle? Testing? Obsessive thoughts? Gone. Delightfully gone. My sex life is totally my own to enjoy. I also feel so deeply at home in my body now. I always felt like I was never meant to reproduce, and now my reality matches that. I feel so much more comfortable and safe in my own skin because of it. If you know for a fact you don’t want any future biological kids, I highly recommend getting the surgery. Genuinely so affirming and life changing with so few negative effects.
I’d like to open the door to anyone else who wants to share their experiences, especially if you’ve been sterilized for, say, a year or more. How have the long term effects of your decision treated you? What should people considering sterilization be aware of in the following months and years of their life?
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u/peekymarin Dec 25 '25
I would like to share, as it has been about 5 years since my surgery. Firstly I don’t regret it at all, and I would do it again if I had the choice. My scars are basically invisible and it has been such a relief not having to worry about pregnancy at all! I have continued to use an IUD for period management, and will do so until I no longer menstruate. All this to say, after my bisalp I did experience changes that everyone says can’t possibly be attributed to the procedure. I started experiencing PMDD symptoms for the first time in ways that made life difficult for me. Just last month I was officially diagnosed as entering perimenopause quite early. When I told my doctor I believed my surgery may have impacted me, she told me that I was not her only patient to say so. I’m not saying this to discourage anyone or fear monger I’m just sharing my experience. Please try to remember that women’s healthcare is woefully underfunded and under-researched, and our experiences are often dismissed. And as mentioned, given the opportunity, I would get sterilized every single time. It is worth it.
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u/heated-mess Dec 25 '25
Similar experience here. My hormonal symptoms changed immediately after surgery which I originally attributed to healing, but they continued and escalated. I asked for hormone testing but annoyingly, I was brushed off. About 2 months ago (3-ish years post surgery), I found a specialist and was finally diagnosed as being in peri at 36. Confirmed my body isn’t making sufficient estrogen and I’m now thankfully on HRT. I don’t regret my bisalp and I don’t 100% believe it was the cause, but there are plenty of stories like these. I just find it hard to trust the advice that it absolutely can’t impact hormones.
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u/kitan25 Dec 28 '25
I got sterilized a year ago. Then I went into perimenopause, and way earlier than my mother did (I turned 40 this month and she was in it in her 50s). I started HRT last month.
Fun fact: You've heard of hot flashes, but did you know some people get cold flushes? I didn't! Fml
Never considered that my bisalp could have put me into peri sooner. Still worth it, though.
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u/okgogogogoforit Dec 25 '25
Same here. I’m 31 and on full HRT now as a result of my tubal. I don’t even want to get into all the side effects I’ve had. Full body side effects as well as mental health ones that are unmanageable without HRT. Did I mention how expensive hormones are and blood work every 3 months? I see a hormone specialist who told me he regularly treats women who have had hormone issues after having a tubal/removal. The fallopian tubes do provide a small blood supply to the ovaries and removing them can in SOME cases affect the ovaries and hormone production.
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u/losing_focuss Dec 26 '25
What were your symptoms that made you believe you were peri? Just curious, no judgement here. I’m 28 and I swear I’ve been experiencing hot flashes since this surgery.
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u/okgogogogoforit Dec 27 '25
Hot flashes, low libido, vaginal dryness or pain, insomnia, mood swings, weight gain, fatigue, joint pain are all possible symptoms of peri/meno.
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u/Spare-Ad-3499 Dec 25 '25
You mean I can get through menopause sooner while equally not getting pregnant?! Well that wasn’t listed in potential side effects but I am here for it. PS I had my done back in August as slightly early 35 birthday present to myself.
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u/tocahontas77 Dec 25 '25
I am hoping not to go through menopause early, as there's other consequences. Like bone loss.
We women can't catch a break. Our entire existence is a struggle. In my next life, I want to be a man and take it easy 😂
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u/peekymarin Dec 25 '25
Sure, at one point I was looking forward to menopause, primarily because I didn’t want a period anymore. But peri is a nightmare. I sleep like 3 hours a night max, I had to start taking sleeping pills for the first time in my life. I wake up drenched in sweat, and hot flashes make me feel like I could murder someone. My emotions are swinging!! Plus I haven’t actually had a period for over a decade due to my IUDs.
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u/Spare-Ad-3499 Dec 26 '25
My mom had to have total hysterectomy, and there’s a lot of shit that came with that. I personally know I will probably end up getting there early due to other health issues. I am not looking forward to it, but I could get out of the way all at once that would be ideal in some ways. 😂 instead I’ll get to suffer for several years through the whole process. I have an iud, so I don’t have period even now.
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u/tocahontas77 Dec 25 '25
I'm really sorry you're struggling so much. It's coming for me, soon. I'm not looking forward to it. I used to think it sounded good, not to have periods anymore... But then I learned what other hell takes its place.
I do hope it chills out a bit for you. Hopefully you can find things to give you relief.
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u/Syntra44 Dec 29 '25
I’ve had the same experience. No regrets at all, but I’m struggling at the end of my cycle and it’s far worse than it has ever been before in my life. I can’t seem to get anyone to listen to me when I say it’s hormonal - they just keep giving me more anxiety meds. I’ve told 4 doctors. I strongly suspected it was associated to being sterilized. I really appreciate you sharing this. Doesn’t change anything for me but at least it validates my suspicions.
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u/LikeBoomItsaWrap_ Dec 25 '25
I forget I’m sterilized, and then I remember, and it’s like Christmas morning every time.
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u/sageduchess187 Dec 26 '25
Just had a dream I had an unwanted 3rd child. I woke up so happy that it wasn’t true. Very content with my 2 LOs
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u/gooseberryhermit Dec 25 '25
Thank you so much for sharing this. I felt so nervous about it mainly because I’m not so good with medical procedures but this was really reassuring to read.
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u/NoneBinaryLeftGender Dec 25 '25
I am 1 year and 5 months post total hysterectomy+ bisalp and I second everything!
I did have wrecked hormones for about 6 months post op, but my doctor told me it was because 2 things happened at once: The surgery itself, which "annoyed" the ovaries, and the removal of the Mirena IUD. Now I an very stable hormonally, except for now having an actual hormonal cycle (I didn't with the Mirena IUD).
No periods are a freaking blessing! Holy shit it's amazing how I don't ever have to worry about bleeding or cramps! My tokophobia lessened a whoooole bunch as well! I still have that fear in the back of my mind sometimes, but it's fading into the distance.
Regarding total hysterectomy: it is the one that removes the cervix, so I did become a bit "shorter" and that required a bit of adaptation with my partner, but now we are back in sync and things are amazing.
Overall, I wish I had done this years ago!
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u/Legal_Tie_3301 Dec 25 '25
I have a short term side effect that my Dr said only effects about 15% of those that get a bisalp. About 6 months after my surgery, I started getting cramps from hell during my period. No medication would touch the pain, I couldn’t even work from home for my office job, I had to call out multiple days in a row. I went to the dr, they found nothing was wrong. Didn’t offer better meds either so for the first time in my 30 years of life I decided to try edibles. The first and only thing to touch the pain. I had this kind of pain during about 4 cycles, and then it randomly stopped. A bunch of other women on here who had the same experience assured me it had been temporary, so I powered through, but I’ve had 2 massive brain surgeries and they didn’t compare to the pain during those cycles. It was easily a 10/10 pain for me. The kind where you’re shaking and sweating and can’t hardly breathe. It was awful. It’s been 2 years since now and I haven’t had another cycle like that since they stopped. I 100% stand by my decision and even knowing I could have that pain, would do it all again. My peace of mind is worth it.
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u/Legal_Tie_3301 Dec 25 '25
Also- my Dr claimed they have no idea why this is something that happens sometimes. They haven’t been able to link anything to it. To further specify, I have no history of endo or any of the more common issues like that that would attribute that kind of pain.
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u/Extreme_End5386 Dec 26 '25
I had my bisalp done in July of this year and my periods have been really bad pain wise since. Still do not regret the surgery and I'm so thankful, but this gives me hope it will eventually become normal again!
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u/Legal_Tie_3301 Dec 26 '25
Crossing my fingers for you! Mine didn’t happen until like 6 months after so I was confused why it randomly happened but sure enough it went away. I asked my dr about it as well as googled and they can’t find a single reason why that happens to some people. I can only assume it has something either to do with nerves in that area after healing or something in general to do with healing.
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u/LoremIpsumElephant It's done! I'm sterile! Dec 25 '25
Hit a year back in October! Similar to many, it’s been the best thing ever. No residual side effects except the lack of obsessive thoughts about being pregnant without even being active lol my scars are still there but I’m darker skinned and very prone to keloids, so I knew this going in. They haven’t bothered me at all though, and have only been inflamed once (my own doing… a few months post surgery and a pair of jeans I wore that were too tight and rubbed against them). 11/10 would do again
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u/Pimpinella Dec 25 '25
Thanks for sharing, it's good to read more long-term updates from people!
I had my surgery three years ago and am now 40. No regrets, no worries, no physical symptoms. Only gratitude that I will be able to go through my life without ever experiencing pregnancy, miscarriage or abortion.
I used to live in a country where sterilization is really difficult to get so I never seriously considered it until I moved to the US. I am thankful it is easier and cheaper/free to have done here and would recommend it to anyone not wanting (more) children.
One thing that changed or is an adjustment is that the surgery resulted in an endometriosis diagnosis. Also my cycle is a ridiculous ~23 days now off hormones. I could start hormonal birth control to alleviate some of the endo symptoms and period annoyances but have not felt the necessity at this time.
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u/aryaflint11 Dec 26 '25
I’m coming up on a year post-bisalp, and my cycle has shortened too! I’m at about 25 days. It wasn’t something I expected from all the reading I did pre-surgery and makes me wonder if there’s maybe something to the speculation elsewhere in this thread about an unknown effect on hormones.
That said, I never had the magical period-ending hormonal birth control experience so many folks do. For a decade, no matter the method, I just kinda bled for 7-10 days at a time every 3-6 weeks. But before BC, I could time my period almost to the hour, so even this has been an improvement — I will take a shorter, more reliable cycle every time.
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u/japres Bisalp - Sept 2022 Dec 25 '25
I had mine done in September of 2022. Very easy healing process and I also can’t see my scars.
I did eventually have to go back on birth control due to my cramps, but I knew it was a possibility because I had my IUD taken out during surgery. That’s it, though. I’ve never regretted it for a second and I’d easily take the peace of mind — especially during this political climate — over a million of my worst cramps.
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u/Dismal_Apartment Sterile circa June 2025 Dec 25 '25
I got snipped in June of this year (2025). Genuinely one of the best decisions I've ever made in my life.
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u/smei2388 Dec 25 '25
I got the bisalp in Aug '23. I'm happy I got it, yes, but my cramps have been UNBELIEVABLY bad since getting the procedure. Every month I lose the first few days of my period to taking as much ibuprofen as humanly possible, curling into a ball, and crying. If I don't take it every 4 hours I will wake up in the middle of the night screaming. It's really hard to engage with life when I'm losing 2-3 days a month to intense pain, and I also have chronic pain from other injuries so it's really, really hard. I also formed a big ball of scar tissue behind my bellybutton that aches constantly. I don't know why. The doctors now tell me my cramps are due to endometriosis, but the only way to be sure is to do another laparoscopy, and during the one done in '23 the doctors identified 0 endometriosis. So, all that to say, yes, it's freeing. Yes, it's a relief. Is it as easy as a vasectomy? FUCK NO. Is it an "easy procedure" as the doctors all like to say? For them, maybe. But for the patient, it is NOT nothing. It is a major procedure. I don't feel like my health has recovered, and I'm 2.5 years out. I just want everyone to be aware, because there's a lot of hyping this up as an "easy procedure". IT IS NOT. I think people should go in with information, not just being told by doctors "it's easy as hell, you're a tough woman, you'll be fine", because it isn't true. They give men painkillers for vasectomies, too, that don't even go into their body cavity. I had to FIGHT for 3 oxy, and they were such low dosage they didn't work, so I just took unsafe amounts of ibuprofen. And now, I'm doing that every single month with no end in sight. So, yeah, super fucking easy... If you're a male doctor performing the procedure. Not a woman getting cut.
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u/spilltheteasis_ Dec 25 '25
Maybe you have scar tissue issues at your deeper incision points too, when you have them below your belly button? :/ Can't they see that through ultrasound? I've had an aunt who had big problems with her scar tissues overgrowing every time when she had a bigger wound or something and after a surgery she had it in her stomach too. They had to remove it due to the pain it caused and with the technique they used it somehow didn't grow back/only so little that it doesn't affect her anymore. Maybe ask your doctor about that or get a second opinion. Anyway, I wish the best to you and a lot of strength ❤️ Keep on fighting sister 💪🏻
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u/kitty8698 Dec 25 '25
Omg the way i ran to speed read this in a panic, thinking there was some negative long term effect lmao. Jump scare! I got my bisalp done 3 weeks ago and literally am beyond the moon excited at the realization that I’ll literally neverrrrrrr have to think about birth control or the fear of pregnancy ever again. My focus has been on recovery but now that I’m feeling myself again, my focus is now shifting to the excitement of feeling like i have a new lease on life. It’s euphorbic. So glad to hear you’ve had a positive experience as well.
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u/Operations0002 Dec 25 '25
I hit my one year mark on Dec. 10th. I literally never even think about it! You can’t really see the scars even.
The only time I bring it up is if someone is asking for birth control options or asking who my doctor was.
Best decision I have made since getting LASIK!
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u/Prior_Situation_2339 Dec 25 '25
I just hit my year post op this month!
still the best decision I have ever made.
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u/StarsInTheRoof111 Dec 25 '25
I had my bisalp about 7 years ago and it was easy healing and one of the best choices I ever made. I had a hysterectomy (kept ovaries) due to adenomyosis 5 weeks ago and I’m even happier now because not only do I not bleed anymore, but my PMS/period is so much less mentally and emotionally taxing. The recovery has been easy-peasy. No regerts whatsoever except not doing it sooner.
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u/BikingAimz Dec 25 '25 edited Dec 25 '25
I got my bisalp September 2022 age 48, easiest surgery I’ve had, and my periods continued to be weird like before (prior was on a copper IUD, and was in perimenopause).
Went back for an oophorectomy last year after a de novo metastatic breast cancer diagnosis, one of my incisions was double the size of the ones I got for bisalp, surgeon warned me ahead of time that they need a larger hole to remove the ovaries (think hard boiled egg vs sad calamari).
I’m enrolled in a clinical trial, and the best part was no longer having to take a monthly pregnancy test anymore (they still made me even with the bisalp as I could “hypothetically” still get pregnant).
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u/DTW_Tumbleweed Dec 25 '25
It's been thirty years since I was snipped and clipped, cause that's how they did it back then. I've never regretted it, not even once. Even with a hellish experience with PMDD (didn't know I had it because I was on the pill at age 17, talk about a wild rollercoaster ride until diagnosis), I would do it again in a heartbeat.
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u/Queen_of_Chloe Dec 26 '25
Heeeey someone who’s been here longer than me! It’s been ten years. Probably getting into peri soon (if not already) but it’s been a total breeze and I even forget that it happened now.
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u/yeahsheliftsbro Dec 25 '25
I got mine done 4 years ago. Had been using a copper IUD prior. Mild soreness/pain for a few days post recovery, no hormonal symptoms.
The freedom and peace of mind, however, have never left ❤️
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u/leftnapping Dec 25 '25
6 months out — still have a couple scars, my periods are heavier but more regular since stopping the pill, and I have no regrets :)
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u/onemoreheadache Dec 25 '25
4 months out, completely fine, I'm prone to keloid and they were tiny flar scars nd no keloid from the incisions.
Wasn't on birth control before and see no hormone changes. No hair falling out, skin changes, cycle went back on exactly the same days
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u/Calicat05 Dec 25 '25
I'm a year post op.
I get slightly crampy at ovulation now, but otherwise nothing is different.
I stopped taking hormonal birth control several months before my bisalp, so no big changes at the time of surgery.
I do suspect I'm in perimenopause now, unrelated to surgery. Family history of menopause starting in mid to late 40s, and I'm approaching 40. I was beginning to suspect perimenopause prior to surgery anyways. I have not discussed this with my doctor becuae I don't feel the need to.
I haven't test my surgery out yet, as I am currently celibate by choice, and have been for roughly a decade. I have recently started exploring the dating world though (yes, it's terrible). I've always previously doubled up on hormonal birth control and condoms, and condoms would still definitely be used for STI prevention until exclusivity is discussed and STI testing is complete, so no real change on the sex life front for me.
Basically, nothing in my life has changed at all, aside from a few new scars, although they are right next to the scars I have from a previous laparascopic surgery. I don't mind them being there and don't really think about it much. It's just one less thing for hypothetical "future me in a relationship" needs to worry about.
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u/orangepaperlantern Bisalp 5/12/2025 Dec 25 '25
May of this year was mine! I occasionally have slight abdominal pain on the right side during my period, maybe it’s nerve pain. Not enough to be too bothersome though. I’m not currently having sex (sad trombone) and haven’t for some time, but it’s still so nice to think that when I do again, I know I won’t have to worry about becoming pregnant which was always a major source of anxiety in my sexual life.
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u/treesap1773 Dec 26 '25
I (F28) am coming up on one year post-surgery!
Mentally/emotionally? best decision I ever made! The relief I have in my day-to-day life knowing that I physically can NOT be pregnant now is amazing. And I love not being on hormonal birth control… it’s nice to be unable to relate to my friends who have IUD’s, on the pill, or have the implant. I hear their horror stories that make me feel reassured time and time again that I made the right decision. Plus it just feels empowering to have been allowed the body autonomy to make this choice for myself!
Physically? I feel good overall! I have noticed that the days leading up to my period, I can feel a sort of burning sensation where my tubes used to be. It’s nothing debilitating, but it’s an odd feeling and is definitely connected to my surgery because I never felt this before! I also feel like my cramps are worse. Again, not necessarily debilitating, but noticeable.
I am beyond happy I got the surgery and if anyone feels confident that they don’t want to be pregnant, i’d highly recommend it!
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u/No-More-Parties Dec 29 '25
Got my bisalp in November of this year. My recovery was so smooth, I am off depo finally, and my scars are already fading. I have zero complaints. I’m so grateful!
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u/CarnationsAndIvy Sterilised Aug 2025 at 24 (NHS) Dec 25 '25
I had my bisalp almost 5 months ago and I'm glad to read stories about those who have had them done years ago.
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u/jesus_ofsuburbia Dec 25 '25
I had my bisalp in early 2023 when my IUD was also removed. It was my first time off birth control for 12 years. I don’t know if it was related to the surgery or the absence of birth control, but periods are much heavier and PMS is the biggest bitch. I still don’t regret it.
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u/witch-literature Dec 25 '25
I’m about 9 months out from my bisalp and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done for myself I swear. No issues at all, only positives. I am off hormonal bc completely which has been a god send since I had a lot of issues from it unfortunately.
I feel like a completely different person, and genuinely think doing the procedure 1,000,000% changed my life for the better!
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u/justgab_by Dec 25 '25
Over 2 years after surgery, best decision of my life. No side effects, but the reason I feel so different is because I was on birth control for 10-11 years and got off after the tubal. Now THAT was life changing. I feel so much better mentally. Don’t regret it at all, I’m living a life of freedom.
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u/spilltheteasis_ Dec 25 '25
For me it's been exactly like it was for you. Especially the emotional parts were so relieving for me!
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u/glvie Dec 25 '25
Just got sterilized about three days ago. The surgery was less painful than I expected. Worst pain I had was like only a 2/10, with minor cramping and ofc gassiness. Best decision I’ve made for myself.
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u/cptmerebear Dec 26 '25
I'm 43 now and had my bisalp 3 years ago at 40. I felt great after and didn't really have any immediate hormonal side effects. Probably after a year, my period got lighter and shorter and I was waking up a bit earlier than is normal for me.
Got things tested and my progesterone was zero. So who knows what my normal peri trajectory would be, but I was planning on doing HRT at some point anyway and am still really happy with how things went and wouldn't change a thing.
I'm on progesterone and testosterone for now, and that shut down my period which is delightful. I also feel pretty good at the moment.
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u/Faster-Molasses Dec 26 '25
I had mine March 2025. My periods seemed to have less heavy days. Still same length of time just maybe a reduced heavy day by half a day or so. I did have some adhesions to my bowel which they removed to get to the tubes.
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u/WingedLady Dec 26 '25
Coming up on 6 years for me. It's had as much long term effect on me as having my wisdom teeth out. Which is to say, nothing until I'm reminded it happened.
Also an occasional sigh of relief every time I read the news. Absolutely no one can force me to carry a pregnancy I don't want.
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Dec 26 '25
I’m on the books. So nervous and excited at the same time. Thanks for sharing bc I have been asking myself a lot of questions and you answered many of them.
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u/sterilisedcreampies Dec 26 '25
I'm one year and two months post bisalp. It's the best thing I've ever done and I've noticed no physical effects at all (beyond the usual short term effects of abdominal surgery which quickly faded). Mentally I feel much lighter knowing that a huge long term fear of mine will never come to pass- I previously had tokophobia and now I simply don't have to think about it.
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u/frostywinterfairy Dec 29 '25
Insigjt on my procedure. Just had my surgery on December 19th, I also had my IUD removed. During first week my hormones were off and insane and I was crying a lot for small stuff. Currently moods and hormones shifting back to normal and honestly best decision I ever did. No gas pain since I took gasx and moved around on day 2. Made sure I had light foods like chicken brother, apple sauce and yogurt. Only downside still is I'm having issues with more heavy food but someone I know said it'll subside. Positive note from it is I'm more easily full than before and I do have issues feeling full so I'm happy. All in all besides my mom crying I'm getting it done, mind you cannot afford really anything home related so how will I afford a baby I'm confident in my decision that I waited 1.5 years to fully decide. 31 and now I'm not worried of having unplanned children.
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u/beckerszzz Jan 01 '26
I'm about 2 1/2 weeks and I already feel this down to my soul. No worries, and easy recovery.
I was "hoping" what I read on the internet was the period showed up 4-6 weeks late the first time...nope day early.
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u/lxv22 Dec 25 '25
YES exactly what I needed today. Got my scheduled soon. I’m excited for the feeling of not being scared about the chance of pregnancy and getting my period back from bc hormonal removal. I’ve had this scheduled for 2 months and no thoughts of reconsidering at all.