OT: Psych Eval for Permanent Birth Control?

I see my therapist in the morning so I'm going to ask her about this ... But, in the meantime I'm wondering if anyone here has had experience with the process of trying to get permanent birth control. I decided I want to have the Essure procedure. I'm going to be 32 years old on Tuesday, I have never been married, I do not have any children and I do not want any children. There is no medical reason for me to have the procedure - I want it because I have known since I was 17 that I do not want children, and I have never once wavered in the past 15 years. My mind is made up. Someone told me yesterday that I would have to go through a psychological evaluation before my gynecologist would schedule it. Whoever said it (it was a friend of my sister's, but I can't remember which one) doesn't know my gynecologist, nor are they a patient in that practice, but they insist I'll have to go through that before I can have the procedure done. I know none of you know my gynecologist, either - just wondering if anyone has any of their own experiences to share.

As always, you can PM me if you don't want to post your answer for all the world to see.

Really think about it.

It is one thing when you have the choice to say no, but if you take that choice away and it has to be that way you may regret it.

why not just keep on with the way things are. keep the choice open but continue to say no. 

women sometimes don't have children until their late 40's + because they don't desire them until then. 

                                                      

I have been really thinking about it - for 15 years now. Never has even so much as a "maybe" crossed my mind - it is always "no." People ask me, "What would you do if you fell in love with someone and he told you that you could only be together if you'd have children together?" My answer is, "I would be sad, of course, but I guess I'd have to let him go." I would never deny someone their chance at being a parent, and I would never get that deeply involved with someone unless I knew he was certain that he didn't want children, either.

I'm not trying to say you haven't made a valid point, because you have. But you're not the first person to do the "what if" thing with me, and my answer never changes.

I knew after my second baby that I didn't want any more, but the GYNs at Kaiser refused until I was 30 or so--"What if something happened to one of your other children and you wanted another one???"  What, like they are shoes that can be replaced???

You just stick by your guns; if they require a psych review, get one, and then insist on the procedure.  I had my tubes tied and was really happy when it was finally all done.

Good luck!

I have heard other people say that about losing a child, and my answer is the same as yours! You can't replace a child!

Thanks for what you said about sticking to my guns. That is exactly what I plan to do. My therapist and I have had this conversation numerous times and she knows how I feel about it. I see her tomorrow at 11:00 and then I see the gynecologist at 2:00, so by 3:00-ish or so, I should know exactly what I need to do and I will get the process started.

Ok I am going to play the other side, but keep in mind I had two children first.  I had my first at 19 and my 2nd at 35.  I got married to my husband after my 2nd child.  And after my 2nd child I had my tubes tied.  Now I wish that I would not have had that done as I would have so enjoyed having a baby with my huband.  I decided after my 2nd child no more I am done wth this.  But I was not.  We have adopted 5 children and one giant dog.  So I was not done, even though I thought I was.  I regret every second doing that.  But I do not regret adopting 5 children.  If I would not have had my tubes tied I would not have adopted.  So yes good came from the bad.  It was suggested to me while I was pregnant with my 2nd child to have this procedure, because I get so ill during pregnancy.  1st time I almost died.  2nd one I got close, but came out o..k.  You should do what you think is the right thing for you.  We can tell you our side of things and we did what we did for us.  Sounds like you thought about it,.  I think you will need an evaluation since you are under 35 and have never given birth, but you has said you have never waivered in 15 years then you won't with the eval either.  Do what you believe is right for you.

Good luck

Rhonda

Hi Rhonda - Thanks for sharing your story! Adoption is something I think about a lot. I think if I ever changed my mind, I'd rather go that route, anyway. I'd rather adopt a child who needs a home than bring yet another child into the world. Anyway, SEVEN CHILDREN? Wow. And still alive to tell the tale.  I gotta say, I know I don't know you - but I'm proud of you for giving those children a home. Who knows where they would have ended up otherwise? I think that's pretty incredible.

I actually have 9 as my husband has two children from a previous marriage and I count them as ours also.

Rhonda

I know kaiser recommends essure especially for people who have already had children and they require that you go to a class before they schedule surgery, but I don't believe they do a psych eval.  You're over 30 years old, I don't see any reason why you shouldn't get to make a decision regarding your own body!