Female sterilisation.

I asked for sterilization at 30. I had one child (never had any more, didn't want more) and was married. I wasn't asked for husband's signature, but I was asked what I'd do if I got pregnant again. I said I'd have an abortion, so they agreed.

But then I left my husband so didn't bother with the sterilization.

Thisismyname1953

I asked my consultant to sterilise me while I was pregnant with baby no3 at age 22. He said he would but leave a few months after the baby was born . As me and the pill didn’t get along I insisted on it being much sooner . I was sterilised 3 days after baby was born . 47 years later I have never regretted it for a moment .

I know a young woman who was told the same when expecting her (planned) 5th child.
The result - she was pregnant with baby no 6 before she got an appointment for the absolutely-essential counselling session.

This was only 4 or 5 years ago.

These days women could freeze their eggs and then be sterilised - same for men, with sperm, too.

My mum said that when she was having her two babies in the 50’s the consultant was v keen to sterilise women after their second baby. The irony was that the consultant had five children and didn’t seem keen on taking her own advice!

I had my Fallopian tubes tied when I was 28, after a third unplanned child, 46 years ago. It was illegal then, but my doctor (female, of course!) respected my wish and went ahead. It was done privately, in a private hospital and my apendix was removed to justify/hide the real procedure. It was one of the most important and decisive things in my life, personnal and professional, it set me free from the burden of reproduction.
I love my three children.

He was just very innappropriate in what he said and how he said it Nannarose

I had nearly died giving birth twice and had 3 very irreplaceable children at the time, I now have 5.

Same doctor told me during an after birth check up that "you must wait 6 weeks for intercourse but there are other things you can do to please your husband" like that was a priority with a newborn, a kidney infection and after a very difficult birth.

I was told I had been on the pill for too long. I had two children and was at uni. I told the consultant I was done and he accepted that. However there were two young women having abortions and he refused to sterilise them at the same time.

One reason, among many for the decline is that 'back in the day' it was often done after a birth - relatively easy as the uterus is 'high' and the Fallopian tubes more accessible.
When NHS funding models changed, maternity units were not paid for the extra night or two that a woman might stay in following sterilisation.
Also, vasectomy is, on the whole, a cheaper & simpler option.

VioletSky, I completely appreciate what you are saying, but this can be difficult. As a student nurse I was assigned to a gynae ward with a very well respected consultant who specialised in reversing sterilisations (in fairness, these days, you would do IVF instead). In the space of 3 months I nursed:
2 women who had threatened suicide if refused sterilisation in their early 20s, and had changed their minds.
2 women who had all their children die. In case of recognition here, I won't put the circumstances, but they were very distressing.
Personally, when discussing with my consultant, I said that I felt that whatever happened, I was 'done'. I also think that we should consider, and take responsibility for our decisions; but I do understand why some doctors feel reluctant.

I was sterilised when my daughter was about six months it was 1992. I was about the file for divorce I don't recall having to get my husband's permission I was thirty six.

When I decided that I didn’t want anymore children my doctor told me that there was no chance of having a sterilisation on the NHS because I was too young and healthy, I was 34.
I had it done privately. The doctor wanted my ( soon to be) ex husband’s signature because he still had a say in it as we weren’t divorced.
I took the consent form and signed it myself.

When i asked, for a valid reason as medical conditions interfered with the pill, I was told no. This was 15 years ago.

The doctor said, and i quote "What if all your children died in a fire".

I was furious and never saw him again.

I asked my consultant to sterilise me while I was pregnant with baby no3 at age 22. He said he would but leave a few months after the baby was born . As me and the pill didn’t get along I insisted on it being much sooner . I was sterilised 3 days after baby was born . 47 years later I have never regretted it for a moment .

In the 80's Mr. S. had to have my signed agreement before he could have a vasectomy.

I think it's still a case of Consultants believing that women don't know their own minds and should wait for sterilisation until they are at least thirty and have children. I have read of a couple of women who never want children but have been refused sterilisation. Of course men can have a vasectomy at any time. In the 70s I had to get my husband's permission to be sterilised.

I think contraception is better than it was. I remember when any period problems were dealt with by having a hysterectomy, thankfully this is not so common now.

Doctors try to persuade women to have long-term contraception instead.
In case they change their minds, maybe.
It seems sterilisation will only be considered if other options have proved unsuitable because of a physical reaction to them.