r/sterilization • • May 06 '22

Link to the Childfree Friendly Doctor List

603 Upvotes

Since this sub is blowing up a little with the SCOTUS Roe v Wade drama, I thought I'd post the link to the Childfree Friendly Doctor List in r/childfree. It's a little hard to find sometimes, so I hope this helps some people out.

To the Mods: if this is not allowed, I'll delete it, but maybe a pin would be in order? I just want to help people looking for doctors.

EDIT Jan 2025: I'm replacing this list of links with a link to the page in the r/childfree wiki with all the links on it. This didn't to work when I originally made this post, which is why I had added all the individual links, but it appears to be working at this time. There are now 10 lists for US, plus one for Canada and one international list for outside US and Canada.

https://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/wiki/doctors/


r/sterilization • • Apr 29 '24

Collecting helpful resources and ideas for improving the subreddit

36 Upvotes

Hello!

I've received some suggestions and comments about improving this sub (see here thank you, everyone!), especially collecting imoprtant information in one place and making it more readily visible are commonly mentioned. How could I say no? So, I want to ask for your input and welcome all recommendations:

General ideas for improvements
-Updating the sidebar (see the current text here)
-Make sidebar show up on mobile/new Reddit (work in progress)
-Adding flair to the sub (will do Edit: Done - please test it :))

Collecting important and/or helpful information in a master list
-Post-OP care
-Insurance
-Other subreddits
-Writing/collecting a wiki
-etc

Once there is a list of resources, I'll think about how to structure it and will make sure to make it available in the sub. Likely as a combination of new sidebar elements, a wiki, and maybe a new sticky thread - additional suggestions are welcome :)

Lastly, while I do not comment a lot on the sub any more (many of you know a lot more than I do, even after reading here for years!), you can always reach me through the modmail, by DM or with a ping (like /u/CandylandRepublic) in a comment chain. I check the report queue daily or a few times per week at least.


r/sterilization • • 8h ago

Experience bisalp experience (good one i swear) (also kinda long)

5 Upvotes

hi queens! so i got my bisalp like 5 days ago and im 5 days post op and i just wanted to share my experience!

to start i am 21 and i live in michigan and in a very liberal city so getting approved wasnt a hard thing for me to do. i decided on a bisalp because i was getting an copper iud and to sum it up i have a small cervix. so the gyno had me come in on my period and everything to dilate me and it just wasn’t working so she said she’s not going to do it and i was boohoo crying and i explained i didn’t even want kids and i was so frustrated that i had to go through all of this to prevent pregnancy. oh also i was on the pill for 3 years and i wanted out of hormones so i decided to try to get an iud. anyways, she said she know someone who could give me a tubal ligation at first. i talked to him and he didn’t take my insurance so i met another lady who actually so happened to be on the childfree list on reddit. i met with her and they pressed me pretty hard about it then mentioned a bisalp instead of a tubal. i guess to see my level of seriousness they had me to write a letter and i did exactly that and got approved!

fast forward to the week of surgery i did all of my running around so grocery store, cleaning, my hair, my school work, etc. the day of they gave me instructions such as don’t eat past 12am, don’t drink after 9am, shower the night of and morning of, no deodorant,and no skin products. the nurses were super sweet to me. they did standard stuff like urine test. my boyfriend and mom were there for support too. they prepared to roll me back and they gave me some sorta anxiety medication through iv and i’ve lowkey been thinking bout it since like it worked like scary good but i digress. they told me to breathe into a mask and i was out. the surgery only took 40 mins from what my family said since they had like a live update thing there for families. i woke up but i kinda was forcing myself to wake up cause idk i have a irrational fear of dying so i tryna get myself out of it. i was really sore and they gave me fentanyl and oxy. after like a hour they sent me on my way and i was walking and everything else. also i had a belly button and two hip incisions on my right side.

the next day which was post op day 1 i was super sore i rotated tylenol and motrin every 4 hours and i made sure i got up and walked every hour or two for at least 10 mins. i ate regular slept regular and im a stomach sleeper so i didnt even care i couldn’t sleep on my back i just powered through the pain. day 2: i started my cycle (unfortunately) so i was doing recovery and period sad case. i continued to do the same thing as day 1. day 3 my incisions became super sore and i had some uncomfortable feelings happening by my incisions but i just kept taking medicine and my heating pad worked wonders too. i would wear it when i would walk around the house. day 4 i was honestly totally fine i was walking around regular and i even drove to marshalls and dollar tree to dilly dally. i just cant walk as fast as normal. day 5 i went back to work and school but i told my job i cant lift anything for 4-6 weeks.

overall my experience was great sorry for the long drawn out story telling. i hope all the details help give a better picture and feeling to the girls who wanna do it! use the childfree list on reddit it’s the truth!


r/sterilization • • 6h ago

Post-op care Post op issues

1 Upvotes

Currently 2 weeks post op and have to take a course of antibiotics to fight infected incision sites.

After the surgery I stayed the night in hospital. Next day I was discharged with very basic post care notes
- leave dressing on for 3-5 days
- let steri strips and glue fall off by themselves

The dressings pulled the steri strips and glue off with them leaving me with open incisions. Did what I could at home to keep them closed and protected. Went and visited my GP who started me on a course of antibiotics.

Did anyone else experience similar? How long did it take to fully heal and close the incisions?


r/sterilization • • 6h ago

Other For those who've had a partial hysterectomy!

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1 Upvotes

r/sterilization • • 14h ago

Insurance Surgery tomorrow!

2 Upvotes

Hey! Quick question, I know I posted last week about it, talked to my doctor and did pre-op today. She stated she’d also be removing endo at the same time; for those with ACA compliant plans, did it also cover the endo removal if you had it or did you pay separately? I’m waiting for my phone call to be answered by insurance. 99% sure mine is ACA compliant, I’m triple checking now.


r/sterilization • • 1d ago

Social questions Surgery or not?

18 Upvotes

I am 10000000% sure that i never want to have kids or be pregnant. But! I am still scared of the surgery. I am single right now and i dont want to change that anytime soon. Casual stuff is also not my thing. I dont mind being abstinent. Nothing religious. I just dont mind and also the meds i have to take kill the remaining part of "that" completely. So i dont miss intimacy since it is dead anyway XD

I should be fine right? But i am scared of politics taking my right to choose for good. Even now terminating a pregnancy here is very hard! So in case of r*pe (which i sadly have to consider) or maybe i change my mind about the relationship topic, i want to be safe no matter what politics decide.

Should i still do it? I dont necessarily need it but i dont wanna gamble with so many maniacs ruling countries and beefing with each other and also the far right parties getting stronger in every country.


r/sterilization • • 1d ago

Referrals/Approval Are there any doctors in Oklahoma that are familiar with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?

5 Upvotes

Hi all,

I am looking for a bisalp provider in Oklahoma that is familiar with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. 

During previous endometriosis surgeries, I was told that my uterus is extremely fragile due to my weak connective tissue. My uterus was accidentally punctured because of this during my most recent endo surgery almost 2 years ago. 

I have had a look at the Google doc list on r/childfree, and while it’s great that my state has so many providers on it I don’t see anything in the notes about EDS. 

If you have EDS, what was your bisalp experience like? If you’re in OK, who was your provider? 

Thank you 


r/sterilization • • 1d ago

Side-effects Increasingly painful periods after bisalp

4 Upvotes

I (F27) had a bilateral salpengectomy about 1 1/2 years ago (April 2025). Since then my period cramps have become increasingly worse, but my cycle also shortened slightly. At first I took it as a win, shorter period hell yeah, but it just keeps getting more painful. With this current cycle, Ive been sitting on the toilet hugging my knees cause it's one of the only positions I get relief.

When i saw my OBGYN at my wellness visit a few months ago, she just said that can happen🤷🏻‍♀️

Has this happened with anyone else? From what I've seen on here so far is that the first few periods afterwards are hell, but tend to straighten out at least a little bit after.

My periods are still regular. 28 days, 3 day period (then it'll stop and sike me out for like 20 hours then appear one more time🙄 the audacity), but the cramps just keep getting worse.


r/sterilization • • 16h ago

Insurance I have a question about money owed after surgery maybe you guys can shed some light.

0 Upvotes

So I got my bilateral salpingectomy done and my insurance completely paid for it. Or so I thought. I'm young and quite naive with insurance goings. I did not meet my deductible this year. Its 10k because I have bad insurance through Blue Cross Blue Shield. On the bill it says they covered over 7k and leaves me with 3600 remaining. I spoke with them and they said its my deductible remaining.

Does that sound right? Is the affordable care act supposed to cover everything even if deductibles aren't met? Should I file a formal internal appeal with the National Women's law center about this bill? Or am I on the hook for this?

Originally my insurance wouldn't cover the surgery until many calls later and telling them to change and check surgical coding because they have to pay for it. SO idk if I'm being messed with again since I know Blue Cross Blue Shield makes it very difficult for them to actually cover things. Sorry for the long post. ♡


r/sterilization • • 23h ago

Side-effects What Should I Expect?

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1 Upvotes

r/sterilization • • 1d ago

Undecided Surgery & prozac

2 Upvotes

hi im getting a salp done in december im on 5mg of prozac . im nervous about the bleeding risk anybody undergo surgery with prozac?


r/sterilization • • 1d ago

Social questions Tubal Surgery!

8 Upvotes

Hey everyone I am going to get a tubal ligation in three days! I wanted to know what are some things that you didn’t know before having the surgery or after if you found out after lol I am excited and nervous but I’m 29 4th kid with hubby, and I’m done lol people keep saying have one more, like no thank you. I already feel so bad for my oldest who is 9, I feel like I’m taking time from her when I keep having newborns 😭plus I want to take trips and not have to keep worrying about babysitter or finances. So if you have had one or know someone who did what can you share? My mom had hers tied after her 4th kid also lol


r/sterilization • • 2d ago

Other Grieving night before surgery

44 Upvotes

Tomorrow is my big day. I'm 25F and am scheduled to get my bisalp tomorrow morning at 7am. It's currently 10:30pm the night before and I'm going through a lot of big emotions and in some need of support.

For most of my life, I thought I wanted kids. I would sort of try to picture myself with children and how that might look, and sometimes it's ok, but most of the time when I'm hit with reality/reminders of how kids can be + being the eldest daughter and being parentified at a young age, I realized I did not want kids. What especially solidified that decision was my immense tokophobia & OCD. Long story short, despite using the most effective birth control + various forms, I would still panic because I would think "i am still capable of becoming pregnant and it's going to happen to me as long as I have the working parts." I know in the long run, I will be so happy I got sterilized. Even when I got the appointment, I was incredibly happy. I discussed the idea with my therapist over a year ago and now it's happening.

But now that it's the night before, I'm feeling a lot of not so great emotions. I'm grieving the loss of a bodily function, even though that's exactly what I want? The thought that I will no longer have a part of me is kind of messing with my head too and some kind of dysphoria that I'm somehow less for losing this aspect of my bodily functions (though, this is something I know is due to societal pressure. Especially coming from a very conservative family that would definitely not be happy to hear I'm doing this). I explained it to my therapist that it's my lizard brain kind of kicking into high gear and wanting to preserve my function to reproduce, even though it's the exact thing that's brought me so much mental anguish. I did not make this decision on a whim and know this is what I want, but I'm kind of trying to fight back tears and this gut feeling of dread. I don't want to back out because I know I will be better off long term and that I can fulfill those maternal instincts through other means like through my pets, fostering, adoption etc. I've actually pictured myself as a foster mom more than having my own kids. All I know is I NEVER want to be pregnant. I never want to experience that. It's my worst fear and I'm disgusted by it, and it's the primary reason I wanted a bisalp and why my doctor agreed with my decision.

I know I'm sort of rambling right now, but any support would help. If anyone has felt this way or similar and how you coped with it, I'd appreciate the words of wisdom. It's just very heavy and real right now..


r/sterilization • • 1d ago

Insurance Anxious and preparing to fight with insurance

6 Upvotes

This a vent more than anything. My doctors appointment to try and get a bisalp scheduled is tomorrow. I'm terrified that my doctor, despite being picked off the childfree Dr list, will say no, but I am more terrified about dealing with insurance. I have had one good experience speaking to someone at BCBS (I'm in TX and have an HMO plan if that matters) and one bad. I got confirmation that my plan is ACA compliant, but I'm getting hung up on the codes. I looked at my plan myself, and under "Health Maintenance and Preventative Services" "female sterilization" is covered with no copay. I spoke to one person through my insurance that told me the usual codes for bisalp with the diagnostic code was not covered. I pushed, saying they had to cover something- she looked into it again and told me "oh it's covered, it's under ACA elective female sterilization, which our system codes as a tubal ligation. It's a bilateral salpingectomy, our system just uses different wording." When I asked what codes would be covered she told me she couldn't give me that information, I'd have to get that from my doctor.... The second person I spoke to when still trying to figure out the codes was extremely rude and even asked me if there was a "medical reason" for getting my tubes removed. I gave them the two codes again and got the same result- no. I gave a different code and they clapped back even faster (I don't think they actually ran the code considering the responded in 60 seconds) and got defensive saying "they were covering it" but not 100%. I keep digging and taking notes but I feel like I'm in information overload. I feel kind of lost on how to handle this. Try to get my Dr to bill for tubal ligation via salpingectomy (I saw a few say that was their work around)? Have her bill for bisalp and appeal? Everything I read makes it seem like I need to walk into the doctors office knowing everything and practically tell them what to do, but insurance is already getting in my way. I suck at advocating for myself, I get flustered really easily and then my brain shuts down. I've read the websites and reddit forums, I have the appeal letter saved and ready to go, I even printed out my productive conversation with insurance to bring with me to my appointment, but I feel like I'm missing something. Dealing with insurance sucks.


r/sterilization • • 2d ago

Social questions Hey. So i know it's nearly impossible to get sterialized in this country.but someone have given me a idea on this sub just go tell them ovarian cancer runs deep into your family that's why you wants to get bisalp done?.

10 Upvotes

So i texted some gynacs some have given me pushbacks and 1 or 2 gynacs said to me okay they will perform I mean offcourse they said it to on text to me. but atleast someone considered doing it. They said to me to come and meet them in a hospital. I'm so scared honestly will they going to do my hereditary test or something to know if I was lieing or not. Or they actually gonna see my family history i was surprised. okay it was on WhatsApp but i was happy that atleast 2 gynacs agreed they will perform it. They asked me to come and meet them and discuss for procedure i don't know if after meeting them they are going to give me pushback or not. I want to know have any of you tried this idea and got this surgery done.hoq can I lie better. Any ideas? I want to mention I'm from india


r/sterilization • • 2d ago

Pre-op prep What should I expect when getting a bilateral salpingectomy?

6 Upvotes

hi!! im 18 and i am going to the OBGYN in early november to discuss hopefully getting a bilateral salpingectomy. i would love to hear from people who have had this procedure done!

what should i expect before, during, and after the surgery? what is the recovery process like, how painful is it, and how long does it take to feel normal again? i’d also love to hear about any unexpected things you experienced or anything you wish you had known beforehand.

also, how likely is it that my doctor will even allow me to get this procedure done? for as long as i can remember, i have never wanted kids.. but i know a lot of doctors are skeptical about allowing someone young to get this done. my state doesn’t have any requirements to get this surgery done, but i do live in a red state which worries me, even though i live in a part of it that is the complete opposite. i found this doctor from a childfree list, but idk im still worried :,)

also, sorry if this is the wrong flair or anything is worded badly in this post! im new to reddit + about to fall asleep


r/sterilization • • 1d ago

Side-effects Pain 8 Weeks after Sterilization

1 Upvotes

Hey, I am getting pretty paranoid here.

I had sex roughly 7 weeks after the operation. It felt like a pinching pain at my right ovary. After going to the gyn the next day he said that it all looked fine but now it hurts even more since then (probably because of the examination). It hurts now several days later when sitting down and I have to take some pain medication so I can work.

When reading online most girl didnt have any issues, so now I am scared I will never have painless sex again 😭

Did somebody have similar experiences?

Thank you 💜


r/sterilization • • 2d ago

Experience 25 & 2 kids I’m DONE

9 Upvotes

Pregnancy & postpartum have been rough with both of my babies and my husband and I have decided we’re done. My hubby offered to get a vasectomy but tbh I just want to get my tubes removed and not worry about it.
I have a 3yo and 2month old.
Are there any mamas in here that had their tubes removed? How was recovery with little kids? Thanks!


r/sterilization • • 3d ago

Experience the full moon *still* has a hold on me!!

4 Upvotes

I had an ablation + bi salp 9/18 and today (10/24) it’s a full moon and i’m having slightly bloody discharge. It’s nowhere near a period amount. I haven’t had any bleed up until this point. Anyone else have this happen a few months later?


r/sterilization • • 4d ago

Social questions I’m getting my tubes removed because I don’t want to be permanently tied to a man, not because I don’t want children.

236 Upvotes

I’m 35 years old, and I’m scheduled to have my tubes removed next month. I’ve been getting quite a few opinions about my decision, especially when I explain my reasoning.
The thing is, I’m not someone who has absolutely no desire to be a mother. Under different circumstances, I could actually see myself having children.
However, what I absolutely do not want is to be permanently connected to a man because we share a child.
I don’t want to be someone’s baby mama. I don’t want to potentially spend the next 18+ years dealing with custody arrangements, child support, disagreements about parenting, or having to communicate with someone I may no longer want in my life.
And before anyone suggests it, birth control is not an option for me. I’ve already considered my options, and I’m not interested in debating why I should use contraception instead of pursuing permanent sterilization.
I know there are wonderful fathers and healthy co-parenting relationships. But there’s no way to guarantee that the person you have a child with will remain the same person throughout your child’s life.
People get divorced. Relationships fall apart. People change. Sometimes the person you thought you knew turns out to be someone completely different.
The idea of having a child with someone and potentially being forced to maintain a connection with them long after the relationship ends is something I’m simply not willing to risk.
What’s frustrating is that people seem to think my reasoning isn’t valid because I’m not saying I hate children or have never wanted to be a mother.
I’ve been told I could meet the right man or that I might change my mind. But even meeting the right man doesn’t guarantee that things will work out forever.
I’m aware that removing my tubes is a permanent decision. I’ve thought about that, including the possibility that I might someday wish I’d chosen differently. But I’ve decided that the possibility of regret is something I’m more comfortable accepting than the possibility of being tied to someone through a child for the rest of my life.
I don’t think motherhood is a bad thing. I just don’t want motherhood under circumstances that could compromise the independence and peace I value.
Has anyone else felt this way? Have you ever considered sterilization despite not being completely opposed to having children?
I’m genuinely interested in hearing different perspectives, especially from women who understand this distinction.


r/sterilization • • 3d ago

Social questions Vous avez eu recours à une ligature des trompes ou envisagez cette intervention : accepteriez-vous d’échanger avec moi dans le cadre de mon mémoire de Master ?

2 Upvotes

Bonjour à toutes et à tous !

Je suis étudiante en psychologie clinique et je réalise actuellement un mémoire universitaire sur le vécu et le parcours de vie de femmes nullipares (n’ayant jamais eu d’enfants) ayant eu recours à une ligature des trompes ou étant en attente de cette intervention.

Dans le cadre de mes recherches exploratoires, je souhaiterais échanger avec deux ou trois femmes résidant à Lyon ou dans ses alentours, qui accepteraient de partager leur expérience lors d’un entretien.

Ce sujet me tient particulièrement à cœur, car les expériences des femmes qui ne souhaitent pas avoir d’enfants restent encore peu abordées et peuvent faire l’objet de représentations sociales parfois stigmatisantes. Mon souhait est de donner une place à leurs témoignages, à leurs réflexions et à leurs choix personnels, dans le respect du parcours de chacune.

Si vous êtes concernée, souhaitez en savoir davantage ou connaissez une personne susceptible d’être intéressée, vous pouvez me contacter en message privé.

La participation est entièrement volontaire, et je pourrai vous communiquer davantage d’informations sur la démarche et les modalités de l’entretien avant toute décision.

Merci beaucoup pour votre attention et votre aide !


r/sterilization • • 4d ago

Experience It all felt too easy?

20 Upvotes

I (34, UK) decided I wanted this done earlier this year, I want to say springtime. So I called my GP as a shaking bag of nerves and expected the worst after reading countless stories on here and r/childfree. She said a few of the usual things about "am I sure" because I said I didn't already have any etc and "they probably won't do it at your age" but referred me anyway.

A few months later and I had a consultation over the phone with a nice lady who went over the risks, etc, and put me ahead for it, I didn't even have to fight. After receiving the consent forms, I realised they'd not put me down for a bilateral salpingectomy like I'd asked, but having clips put on my tubes. So I called up, and the Gynaecologist said she doesn't do what I wanted and would refer me to another person.

I had my consultation with the new Gynaecologist Monday just gone and again, no pushback at all? She told me the risks and the usual stuff, and she said I was on the list to have it done.

I guess my point is that I just feel strange that it was easier than I thought it was going to be? I was ready to fight tooth and nail, go into detail about how much being pregnant freaks me out, and makes me feel viscerally sick. I guess I feel guilty because so many people struggle.

I'm not making this to brag, I'm sorry if it comes off that way. I'm actually hoping for some words of encouragement because I've never had an operation before, and I'm terrified. I've never been in the hospital for anything.


r/sterilization • • 4d ago

Post-op care Should I be worried?

2 Upvotes

I had my bisalp on sept 22nd and everything healed great. Or so I thought. I just noticed when looking down that my left side incision site had a bump and when I touched the top side I had a bit of -I believe- puss come out of a small spot in the scar line. The scar and area around it do not look infected or anything. I got the puss out and cleaned and bandaged it. Should I be worried?

Edit: it is white/off-white puss and it was only a small amount with some blood. Similar to a zit I guess.

2nd edit: it may be a seroma but im just not sure. It definitely didn't have a smell.


r/sterilization • • 4d ago

Insurance Getting paranoid. (Mainly a ramble?)

2 Upvotes

I have my surgery next week; the hospital(?) called today and tried forcing me to pay and kept arguing with me despite saying my plan was ACA compliant and kept interrupting me? She kept trying to talk about the 20% off hospital discount and I’m like no. The person very quickly gave up and told me to have a good rest of my weekend.

I’m now getting paranoid that my insurance isn’t ACA compliant, I called a few weeks ago and asked if the surgery was covered and if the plan I have was ACA compliant and the insurance person said it was. I’m trying to see if I can find some answer on the website since it’s BCBS and I won’t be able to call until Monday. (It’s my parents’ insurance)

What’s making me paranoid is was I only called the insurance once, and they said my plan was compliant immediately; no waiting no being transferred, just the first person. She was lovely to talk to, but now I’m getting paranoid she was lying/misinformed(?) I have this phone call physically recorded and the transcript # the insurance provides post phone call.

I’ve not scheduled a surgery on my own before so I don’t know if that is a normal call to get, is it? I see my doc a few days before my surgery so I’ll ask to make sure it is categorized as preventative.

Even if it’s not ACA compliant, I’m pretty close to my out of pocket max so I’m not super worried about it? I’d rather not pay if it’s supposed to be covered.