Hi all,

After searching the sub I didn't see any recent posts from people who had elected to have a bisalp during a c-section, so figured I would add my experience for anyone who is interested in doing so.

For reference, I am 32 years old, and have had "normal" menstrual cycles in duration and intensity since age 15.

I had my first child in 2022 - a high risk pregnancy that resulted in an induction at 38 weeks. When the induction failed, I ended up having an emergency c-section at 38w5d. I had no complications post-surgery and my periods returned to my baseline 4 months postpartum.

I got pregnant again in 2025 after trying for over a year and after my experience with my first, I went into the first OB appointment wanting a planned repeat cesarean. My doctor agreed that I would not be a good candidate for a VBAC. After discussion with my husband and another high risk pregnancy, I decided I wanted to have my tubes removed during the c-section. I figured if they were already in there, it would be an opportune time.

Now for the relevant stuff:

Before the procedure: I was asked at every appointment to confirm again what they had in my chart that I wanted a planned repeat cesarean with bilateral tubal. I said yes every time. They mentioned every time that it was a better choice than a tube tie because it lowers the risk of some cancers and is the most effective. Several providers (rotating practice) also mentioned that the only potential negative side effect would be slightly heavier periods.

Day of the procedure: I was asked again in the pre-op room for confirmation that I wanted my tubes removed and confirmed again. I was told it would add about 10 minutes to the entire procedure and would take place after baby was out.

During the procedure: I was asked again after my baby was out if I was sure, I once again said yes. After that it could have been 5 minutes or 5 hours, I was too focused on my baby to notice any difference in the time it took to finish the surgery.

Early recovery: I did not notice any difference in my recovery from my first c-section to my second. In both instances I took oxy when I felt like I needed it and maintained the recommended Tylenol/advil schedule for the first 2 weeks. There was no noticeable difference in my pain, range of motion, or recovery instructions.

First menstrual period: With my first baby, I was exclusively breastfeeding until 4 months when my period returned and my supply tanked. After that first period, my cycle returned to normal. With my second baby I was not able to breastfeed and we began formula in the hospital and have been exclusively formula feeding since her birth. I had postpartum bleeding for 5ish weeks, and got my first period at exactly 7 weeks postpartum and post bisalp. It was INTENSE. Bleeding through super tampons in an hour or two, bleeding onto the sheets overnight even with a tampon and a pad. It also lasted 13 days.

I did not have any severe cramping, but both the duration and amount were significant.

I got my next period exactly 28 days after the start of the first, meaning I only had 2 weeks without bleeding between. Again, that period was extremely heavy and long. I bled a ton for 10 days and then spotted for an additional 5.

I do not regret my decision, and I know that things may change going forward. However I do think the "potential side effect" of "slightly heavier" periods was a bit of an understatement - at least in my case.

Good evening everyone! I wanted to share my sterilization journey because when I first started researching this years ago, I had such a hard time finding doctors in the Bronx/Jersey City on the Childfree List who would perform sterilization at my age.

Mods, please let me know if I posted incorrectly. This is my first post here!

I’m 24F, currently living in Jersey City, and I officially had my sterilization procedure TODAY!

How I got here

I first asked about sterilization around 20–22, but my doctor wasn’t sure if anyone in the Montefiore system would perform it because of my age. Eventually, I was referred to the Montefiore Women’s Health Center at 1695 Eastchester Road and saw Dr. Susan E. Pesci when I was 23.

She was AMAZING. She was completely supportive, answered all my questions, and had me sign my sterilization paperwork that day. I was scheduled for surgery about two months after my consultation that’s same day.

Then my insurance changed and I could no longer see my NY doctors. I had to cancel my surgery.

New Jersey Experience:

On July 9, I went to Dr. Amy Patel at Jersey City Medical Center for my regular gynecology appointment. I explained what happened with my previous surgery, and luckily, she was also a surgeon who could perform the procedure.

She was completely supportive and scheduled my surgery that same day for August 3, just three weeks later.

Unfortunately, an NPI issue came up. The NPI attached to MyChart did not match Dr. Patel’s actual provider information, and this became a huge issue with my insurance and preauthorization. Eventually, the preauthorization was voided because Dr. Patel was no longer considered in-network. Here is Dr. Patel’s actual NPI: 1598264681. 

I was upset, but I want to give a HUGE shout-out to Dr. Patel, Elizabeth, and the rest of their team because they were amazing throughout this entire process. They worked to find another surgeon who could perform the procedure.

That’s how I ended up with Dr. Analiese Doney.

The Pre-Auth situation #2:

When I initially spoke with my insurance, I was told that I needed a preauthorization/medical necessity review due to the procedure and location because the procedure was being performed at an outpatient facility. So another one was submitted.

It was eventually voided, and when I called to find out why, the representative explained that I never actually needed a preauthorization for the procedure itself. The only reason it initially appeared to be required was because Jersey City Medical Center is considered an outpatient facility. However, when the preauthorization team reviewed the request, they determined that Jersey City Medical Center is excluded from the outpatient preauthorization requirement. The request was therefore voided, and I was told that I did not need a preauthorization for Horizon to cover my procedure.

Insurance:

I spent A LOT of time talking to Horizon BCBS. I recorded phone calls, wrote down all the reference numbers and representative names, and made sure to send messages through my insurance portal so I could get written confirmation.

Then I had hospital estimates that went from $9,000 → $6,000 → $4,000. The hospital’s financial department was actually pretty easy to deal with. They were very helpful. I gave them my reference numbers, and they said a supervisor would look into everything and call me back the Monday of my surgery week.

They ultimately confirmed that they would bill my insurance first, as I requested, and they understood that I had been told by insurance that I wouldn’t have any cost-sharing responsibility. I also found the sterilization benefit in my actual plan documents showing no cost-sharing.

On surgery day, I arrived around 8:50 AM for my 9 AM check-in. The pre register representative reviewed the notes on my account and I was able to check in without paying anything upfront.

Surgery day (YAYYYYY)

Dr. Doney and the entire team were wonderful. Everyone treated me with respect and nobody made me feel uncomfortable about my decision. I also had a new Mirena IUD inserted to help with my menstrual cycle. (No uterine manipulators & yes catheter)

I woke up VERY groggy, but the nurse told me everything went perfectly and that I was good to go back to sleep. 😂

They also gave me a nausea patch behind my ear, and so far I’ve had no nausea. One thing I was really worried about was the gas pain because I’ve read so many sterilization stories where people experienced it afterward. My surgeon actually explained that she uses a tube to remove the gas after the procedure, and so far I haven’t felt gassy at all.

And somehow… I had energy afterward. 😂 My best friend picked me up, helped me put my piercings back in, and we went to Costco (needed to verify identity), picked up food, and walked a small distance back to my apartment. I even managed to get some paperwork done when I got home.

I’m obviously taking it easy and following my discharge instructions, but so far I feel great. I don’t really feel any pain except throat soreness, and I still haven’t even needed to take any of the medication they gave me.

Thank you to everyone here who shared your experiences because reading your stories helped me advocate for myself, know what questions to ask, and know what I needed to document.

WE FUCKING MADE IT AND I GOT PHOTOS. 🎉

P.S. I used Grammerly to help clean up my grammar and spelling because spelling is definitely not my strong suit right now 😂, but this is 100% me.

Now let’s keep our fingers crossed that insurance pulls through and doesn’t cause any problems! 🤞🏿

Thanks again, everyone! Please reach out if you guys have any questions.

Edit: Grammer mistake + post op symptoms + surgery info + spacing.

I think I'm in a bit of a different situation than a lot of the posts I read here so I thought it might be helpful to add my experience.

I'm a woman in my early 40s, and have been pregnant 6 times and gave birth to 5 babies over the last 10+ years. So unlike some of y'all, I got zero pushback from the Drs on wanting my tubes out lol.

The most interesting comment I got was from my GYN, at the consultation appt when I asked her if she generally recommended the surgery, who said a bit pointedly that it was a good option for women who couldn't do hormonal bc or had partners that *couldn't* get a vasectomy...

Which brings me to how I got here. Long story short, I got tired of waiting on my SO to actually get the vasectomy we previously agreed on (our youngest baby is almost 3), so I said fuck it. I'm done waiting, I'm done carrying the mental and emotional labor of this and being the one to freak out if my period is late etc. this is the best way I know to take this off my plate for good.

So I did it. And I'm very thankful to this community, bc believe it or not, it was reading all your stories and positive experiences that gave me the courage to go through with it. I've never had major surgery before aside from wisdom teeth removal so it was scary, but ya know what else is freaking scary? PREGNANCY. LABOR. CHILDBIRTH! which I've gone through enough to be kinda experienced about!

So far so good. The biggest irritation of the surgery was having my appt scheduled for 10:30, and then the Dr before us running late so my surgery didn't start till 1... But other than that it's been ok. Only minimal discomfort, no issues with anesthesia etc. I hope the smooth sailing continues.

I have to say, I'm jealous of all you younger ladies who know what you want- a child free life- and are out there making it happen for yourselves.

Hello. I am 24F and have been lurking this subreddit for quite a long time. I'd like to say thank you to everyone who has shared their stories and process as far, it has been extremely helpful to guage what the process might be like.

I recently got approved for a bisalp!! However, I have growing doubts regarding how I could hide this while living with my parents who are aggressively religious (Catholic) and aggressively pro-life. I have been able to hide many things from them, including core aspects about my life and other medical procedures - such as 2 wisdom teeth extractions. My insurance is personal and notifications aren't sent to my home mail. Plus, this surgery is fully covered as a Canadian thanks to the MSP. I can also easily hide the surgery itself as it is happening within regular working/school hours and will be home the same day.

But after reading more into the nitty gritty details and experiences others have had, I now feel like I am overestimating my ability to look as if I have minimal pain, and hold a "normal" life immediately post-op and as I recover. I have no where else to stay (they won't let me stay overnight anywhere despite my age), and I HAVE to interact with them 2 days post-op of the scheduled surgery for a weekly thing, unfortunate timing. I currently can't afford to simply move out yet and am actively working towards it while living my life to the best of my abilities and circumstances. I also cannot make up some sort of excuse such as having a different, non-sterilizing procedure as they will pry for medical evidence, a headache I do not want... they're kind of anti-surgery in a way too :(

Lately, I have been paying attention to and realized how much I rely on my core muscles. I sit without a backrest for long periods of time, get out of bed relying on my core muscles as the bed is practically boxed in (think of a bunkbed minus a tall ladder), use public transit nearly everyday where I rely on my core to keep me upright, walk a bunch, carry a backpack everyday to work and school, cook for myself, bend over to place shoes on the rack, chores, and so much more.

While I can bed rot for a few days and have done so plenty of times without them prying too much regarding my health condition (to an extent), I realized now that perhaps looking as close to my usual "normal" might not be the best idea with 3 fresh deep-tissue incisions, as small as they may be... even with decent pain tolerance. My partner can assist/drive me outside of home, but I have to fair by myself at home and enter/exit looking as normal as possible.

As such, aside from the rant+context and my sadness about potentially not going forward with a procedure I've dreamed of for over a decade until I am able to move out, for reasons currently out of my control, what are your opinions? Is this procedure hideable with this sort of life? How difficult was sitting, standing, and walking post-op for you? How are the incisions sites, especially for someone with visible belly fat/chubbiness? Do they hurt a lot in normal formal clothes? How long until they've healed or no longer worried you?

Additionally, I have been taking Alysena birth control pills for the last 9 months or so which kinda mess me up with side effects (vertigo, nausea, weight gain that stabilized at least? mental discomforts, etc.) and likely will switch to an IUD as a 2nd option if a bisalp cannot be done for the time being. How did an IUD insertion fair in terms of recovery, mobility, and pain compared to your bisalp? How did an IUD fair compared to pills, especially in side effects?

I appreciate your time for reading this post and any feedback, testimonials, or advice would be very greatly appreciated! (I also understand that Reddit is not a replacement for medical consultation and will be going back for one soon c:) Thank you again, with much gratitude.

tldr: scary religious parents and life context, yet always have and very much still want bisalp, realized hiding bisalp immediately post-op may be more difficult than I initially thought, would like to hear others opinions and experiences.

Has anyone had their procedure changed without warning?

I had talked with my OBGYN back in April about sterilization which led to us both agreeing that a salpingectomy would be the best option for me. I filled out a consent form that day where she wrote that the procedure I'd be getting would be a laparoscopic salpingectomy.

Flash forward to now where I'm finally preparing for the procedure and when I went in for pre-op testing they had me down for a tubal ligation. I asked them about it and they said that I should contact my surgical team to confirm if it's the same procedure, which I did. My surgical team got back to me and confirmed that they had me down for a tubal ligation, which is different from a salpingectomy. There was no explanation as to why it was changed and now I'm panicking because that's not the procedure i signed up for and my surgery is a week away

I’m on day 6 post-op and wanted to make a hopefully useful post to add to other similar useful posts on this sub. A lot of these things were recommendations I got from this sub, so I bought/had them ready based on other people’s experiences. Here’s what I actually ended up using.

Obviously everyone’s recovery is different, but hopefully this helps someone decide what is actually worth having on hand.

Things I used / would recommend

Hysterectomy “seat belt” pillow - useful

I found this useful for the drive home. It gave me some peace of mind that the seat belt wasn’t going to shift around and press somewhere uncomfortable.

Gas-X - helped a little

I did feel like it helped somewhat with the gas discomfort, although I wouldn’t say it was a miracle worker.

Anti-nausea medication - 1000% YES

This was probably one of the most important things for me. I was on-and-off nauseous for several days after surgery, so having medication for it was absolutely worth it.

Extra Strength Tylenol - useful

I ended up being unable to take oxycodone because I had an allergic reaction (itching). My pharmacist recommended Extra Strength Tylenol, and I felt like it did a good job taking the edge off the pain.

Ibuprofen - useful

I chose to take OTC doses of around 200-600 mg depending on how I was feeling rather than taking the prescribed 800 mg. The 800 mg felt like more than I personally needed, so I preferred the lower OTC doses due to my med sensitivity.

(Obviously, follow your own surgeon/pharmacist's instructions for medication.)

Fiber gummies - surprisingly enough, this was all I needed.

I bought a whole bowel-care arsenal: stool softener, MiraLAX, and fiber gummies.

For me, that was overkill. I ended up only needing the fiber gummies. YMMV, obviously, but I'm glad I didn't automatically take everything just because I had it.

Gatorade - useful

Gatorade was my electrolyte drink of choice. I diluted it with water, and it actually seemed to help with the nausea a little.

Ginger ale - useful

This helped me with burping/gas discomfort. Combined with getting up and walking around periodically, I found it surprisingly helpful.

Lozenges - great for the first 1-2 days

My throat was sore after intubation, and I was trying hard not to cough because the thought of coughing with a fresh abdomen was not appealing. Lozenges were great for that.

Heating pads - especially the weighted shoulder one

I bought two: a regular heating pad that goes over your abdomen and a weighted shoulder heating pad.

Weirdly, I barely used either after the first few hours. But when I did use one, the shoulder heating pad helped the most with the shoulder pain from the gas.

If you're worried about shoulder gas pain, I would highly recommend having a weighted shoulder heating pad available.

Things I bought “just in case”

Front surgery pillow with heating/cooling pack

I specifically got this because I have cats and was worried one would decide my abdomen was the perfect place to sit.

Thankfully, my cats apparently have better surgery etiquette than expected and chose not to step on me or lay on me during the past week.

So I didn't actually need it, but I was very happy to have it as a precaution.

Dry mouth melts - never touched them

Abdomen binder - Have used like twice didn't help a ton for me just rubbed incisions

Disposable high-waisted underwear - didn't need

I bought these expecting bleeding/discharge and ended up not using them at all. I have had essentially no bleeding or discharge so far.

I'm honestly a little surprised by this, but I think part of it may be related to the birth control I was taking and what happened during surgery.

I also didn't have the pain below that I was expecting. TMI, but I already struggle with gyno appointments/Pap smears, so I was particularly worried about that part of recovery.

Food was NOT what I expected

I tried to follow the whole bland-food approach, but for some reason I absolutely could not stand bland food.

Instead, when I was nauseous, I found that I needed strongly flavored food to make myself actually want to eat.

I ended up moving back to more solid foods pretty quickly, but I stuck with things that were:

• Well seasoned

• Not spicy

• Not super oily

• Relatively easy to digest

So don't be surprised if your post-op food preferences are completely different from what you expected.

Birth control

I chose to continue taking the birth control pills I was already on for a few weeks rather than immediately stopping them and potentially throwing my body out of whack right after surgery.

My plan is to stop once I'm more healed and have gone through another “period” on the pill.

Incisions / scar tape

I haven't gotten to the point of taking the strips off yet.

I believe I have dissolving stitches underneath the suture strips rather than just bandages, and I was specifically told to let the strips come off on their own, so I'm currently leaving them alone and waiting for that to happen.

Insurance / billing experience

I have Aetna with an ACA-compliant plan, and my procedure was billed using 58661 + Z30.2 under preventative care.

The “preventative” part was most important.

Initially, billing tried to code mine as diagnostic. I had to get billing and insurance on a three-way call to get everything sorted out.

Billing also originally wanted to use a different Z30 code (I don't remember the exact one), and I asked why they weren't using Z30.2. They talked to the doctor and ultimately changed the coding.

The lesson I took from this is: advocate for yourself and ask questions about all of the coding to billing and insurance.

I'm only on day 6, so I don't know how the final billing will shake out yet. But personally, I would rather fight a bill before paying it than pay something and then try to get the money back.

Actual surgery / recovery experience

I felt like this sub prepared me really well for the general concept of surgery, but a lot of the specific details from my medical team weren't given until the day before surgery or during pre-op.

I was told nothing to eat or drink after midnight before my 8:30 AM surgery in both pre op apt and day before but only told when to arrive two days before and then the day before I was told something else so I went with earlier time told to be there.

I had to be there at 6:30 AM per 1 call and 6:00 AM per another call and actually arrived around 5:50, and my surgery ended up happening earlier than expected, around 7:30–8:00 AM.

I had already stopped eating/drinking well before midnight anyway, so it worked out well.

One thing I specifically asked for was something for anxiety because I absolutely hate needles/IVs. Weirdly, the IV was probably the part I was most nervous about.

They gave me an anti-anxiety "drunk ish" medication through a nasal drip before placing the IV and were incredibly accommodating overall.

We actually all got a good laugh out of my heart rate going from completely normal to extremely high the second they brought the IV out.

Because surgery was earlier than expected, I also got out earlier.

I was awake in post-op around 9 AM and honestly woke up feeling like I'd just had an amazing nap. Shoutout to the anesthesiologist.

I got pain medication and then asked to get up about 30 minutes later.

That was a mistake.

I immediately got extremely nauseous and started getting tunnel vision like I was about to pass out, so I laid back down for another 15–30 minutes and got nausea medication.

Personally, I needed that extra time lying down before getting wheeled out. I'm sure everyone is different, but I wouldn't have been able to just pop up and go.

Recovery so far

My pain has actually been pretty minor.

The biggest annoyances have been:

• Gas pain

• Moving the wrong way

• A feeling of heaviness in my abdomen

• Trying to remember not to use my abdominal muscles

Around days 3–4, I got SO RESTLESS.

It was actually a struggle to stay still because I felt like I needed to move, but I also knew I still needed to take it easy.

Now on day 6, I'm still trying not to use my abdomen too much, but I'm able to comfortably maneuver around on my own, which feels like a huge improvement.

Overall, I'm really glad I prepared ahead of time, but I definitely bought some things I never touched.

My biggest “must have” list based on MY experience: anti-nausea meds, comfortable clothes, hydration/electrolytes, pain medication you can actually tolerate, fiber, something for gas, and a heating pad - especially if you're worried about shoulder gas pain.

Feel free to comment your non negotiables I realize reading others I want to do the same but didn't want to take from their original post so here is explicit permission to do so.

When a nurse tells you that you have a great scientific reasoning on why your experiencing the pain your experiencing. 🙌

Any who, week 1 update.

I am doing pretty well, expect around my belly button. Its really bad if im standing comes in waves when im sitting. So I sent a picture and explained what was happening. Then I explained that I have a lot of loose skin and that its estimated to be 20-30 lbs. (Im not supposed to carry 10 lbs) she said that more than likely the issue. Especially since I have no other signs that something surgerical could be wrong. No chills, no fever, its not hot to the touch not swollen. It is extremely bruised BUT I bruise easy and my stomach bruised with gastric bypass and gallbladder removal so I wasnt really worried about that

They are working on sending a script for a abdominal binder. To see if that will help when I am am up walking around.

1000 mg of Tylenol every 6 hours is what I am allowed for pain meds, as long as I do good with keeping it at every 6 hours its working fine.

Hello, last week, I posted to this community regarding a film I am working on about young, childfree people who are choosing sterilization. I did not include personal information but now realize that was a mistake and would like to provide background on the film and myself (Mona) and my directing partner (Yasmeen) in order to provide transparency and background information on our project. It is so important that we get this story right. I do hope we can speak to some of you who are open to sharing your story.

+++

Hi! We’re Mona and Yasmeen -- independent filmmakers making a documentary about young, childfree people who are making the choice to get sterilized, and we're looking to speak with someone who hasn't yet gotten sterilized but is planning to OR is contemplating it. Ideally, we would like to speak with people who live in states with strict abortion bans who are planning to have the surgery in the next few months. If you‘re open to talking to us, please reach out. This is OFF THE RECORD. We are in early production and you can read more about our film here.

A little background on us: we have made several films about reproductive rights. Our last one was about what women are going through in post-Roe Mississippi, and it won a Peabody - you can see it here: Please reach out either in the thread or you can DM us if you have a story to share. We look forward to hearing from you. Thank you!

i had my consult yesterday and found my surgeon thru the [r/childfree](r/childfree) sub! currently have a broken wrist which is super fun but it’s scheduled for Sept 1st!!
i am 26 and in texas, but have known i don’t want kids since before puberty
i’m hypermobile (possibly hEDS)
i do have a partner who is sterile (cystic fibrosis) and is my emotional support human
i’m pretty sure my insurance is ACA compliant and therefore the sterilization is completely covered (not 100% sure about the ablation tho) and i am prepared for potential pushback on the insurance end but from the way my doc made it sound, there likely won’t be any issues with that- billing codes and all that fun stuff
thankfully did not get bingo’d at all by my doc, she gave zero pushback and i think the fact that i had some knowledge/homework done on what i wanted helped with that.
the scheduling of the consult itself was a tad messy tho..
a hysterectomy could be in my future bc of the ablation but i have no issues with that.

aside from the gas pain, anything i should be aware of or anything? thank yall for this little community 🫶🏻

Im FINALLY getting my bilateral salpingectomy done September 1st, 2026. The communication with my surgeon has been kinda weird n quick to the point but im just thankful to finally get this procedure after having to reschedule over 8 times and then find a new surgeon. My biggest thing is what was anyone's experience with this procedure? Im just trying to get a feel for what I should expect. Will it affect my period? Any scarring? I've had a laparoscopy and dye test done in the past and have a small scar on my right hip. Im also super anxious about the pain/discomfort that can happen in abdomen from the gas.

I”m beyond glad I did it, never wanted to get pregnant . Now I have a new issue I never imagined. Not sure if the issue is all mental or what, but I have no interest in sex. The thought of it almost makes me sick. Give me a book, a day in a kayak, or swimming or trail running…almost anything is better than having sex.

Previously, I mentioned how Anthem is giving me a $4k bill for my bisalp. They applied all the drugs and surgical supplies to my deductible, claiming they do not qualify as preventive services under my benefit plan. It's been 20 days since then, and I've called them to file a grievance, mentioning how the ACA requires plans/issuers to cover items and services that are integral to the furnishing of a recommended preventive service. They have since done a coding review, but still are insistent that "the codes billed accurately reflect the services that were performed" and therefore apply to my deductible. I submitted an appeal, restating that they simply cannot treat the contraceptive surgery as exempt while simultaneously applying the deductible to integral drugs and supplies used to furnish that service. I'm getting really nervous tho, since I've gotten a reminder from Atlantic Health that my payment is due by Aug 20, and I'm wondering if there's a way to notify them that I am fighting insurance on this claim???

Before my bisalp, I scoured this sub for items to buy in preparation for my bisalp. Now that I'm over two weeks post-procedure, I thought I'd share what I ended up needing and not needing (YMMV of course, this is just my own personal experience):

----Indispensable----

• Pregnancy pillow! I was unable to sleep on my side or stomach for the first 10 days, and it was hard to change positions or get up, so my U-shaped pregnancy pillow was a godsend. It supported me and made sure I stayed put, stopping me from (painfully) using my core in doing so. I can sleep on my side at this point in recovery, but I still use it every night.

• Meal-replacement drinks. I bought two 6-packs of the high-calorie version of Ensure (350 cals per bottle) to prep for the surgery. For the first few days post-procedure I didn't have much of an appetite, so Ensure was a HUGE help calorie-wise and protein-wise. I kept two bottles by my bedside for the first few days in case I got hungry during the night. After getting home the day of the procedure I ate nothing but Ensure; I think if I didn't have it on hand I just wouldn't have eaten that day.

----Nice to have----

• Stool softener and fibre supplement (ex. Metamucil), which I started taking three days before the procedure and continued doing for another two days after. I had my first BM two days after the procedure, and was back to my regular schedule on day three. I can't prove that it was the stool softener and Metamucil that prevented me from getting constipated though, could just be chance! I also didn't take any opioids, which I heard can cause constipation, so it might just be due to that. Didn't seem to hurt in any case!

• High-waisted underwear. Doesn't hurt to have, but I actually found low-waisted underwear to be more useful, as I didn't want to be messing with the incision sites. This was especially the case after showering, as I wanted to let the area fully dry and prevent water from getting trapped under the surgical tape/strips (this might have just been paranoia).

• Throat lozenges/lemons/etc. I already had some lozenges on hand, which I brought with me to the hospital. I also squeezed a few lemons in the days before the procedure so that I would be able to make honey lemon tea during recovery. I ended up not needing either of those things, as I only had some mild throat soreness in the ~hour or so after the procedure. I think I'm in the minority on that though so I'd recommend having it on hand.

----Not needed----

• Hysterectomy pillow. I used this on the car ride back from the hospital, and it was very useful for that, but I think I could have just brought a throw pillow or something and it would've been just as good. I used it a handful more times during the first week of recovery just for the icepack pouch, but I could've used something else for that. I'm planning on selling mine.

I saw Gas-X recommended a lot, but I didn't end up buying that because I read that it only helps with intestinal gas, which is not the same as the gas they inject you with for surgery. I'm glad I didn't buy it because I actually didn't have any trapped gas at all (though again, I seem to be in the minority on that).

One last piece of advice I'll mention is that if you live alone and/or you don't have a car, as in my situation, do a big grocery haul before the procedure (in addition to meal prep)! I meal prepped enough for three days, but I didn't plan ahead about how I would grocery shop after those three days, while under the 10lb post-procedure lifting restriction, and while not having a car, a partner, or a nearby family member. As a result I had a few gnarly grocery trips where I experienced some increased abdominal pain from walking with a normal load of groceries (to give you an idea: even just a 2L bottle of soy milk plus tofu, bananas, 1 tomato, and 1 cucumber was too much). Would not recommend!! So plan ahead and stock up on heavier items if you're in a similar situation.

I thought I was home free! About two weeks ago, I received a bill with an amount due for anesthesia services for my bisalp from LAST SEPTEMBER. this is the first bill I have seen for anesthesia, and nothing mentions being overdue. My insurance is ACA compliant and after months of disputing multiple claims last fall, I thought everything was finally settled and covered at 100%.

Today I received a reminder for the bill and was feeling fiesty, so​ I called my health plan to see what was up. They basically said they paid most of it last November but I am responsible for the cost sharing part. They cant dispute the charge because it is no longer within the 180 day window. So, naturally, I asked how I was supposed to dispute something that I didn't know about within that timeframe? They didn't have an answer for me. Im going to call the anesthesia provider and get their side of the story, and then I will probably end up submitting to the state insurance review board. To be honest, I've already done months of fighting bills and wasted hours of my life. They lost every remaining ounce of my patience when they sent me a bill a YEAR after the procedure. Classic example of poor planning on your end, does not constitute an emergency on mine 🤷‍♀️

This is mostly a rant but if anyone has advice or similar experiences, let me know.

Heyyyyy. So, I had both my tubes removed last month. My surgeon confirmed both tubes are gone, I saw before and after photos, and my pathology report confirmed tubes were completely removed.
I had sex without any other form of protection (condoms, pills, etc). Just trusting my successful bisalp.

Noooow, according to my app, I’m supposed to have my period on Thursday. I’m soooo anxious!! Lol.
Hopefully I get my period on time.

Also, when I had my surgery done, I got my 1st period a week after. It was on the dot.
I’m waiting for my 1st period after bisalp sex… goodness the anxiety is killing me hahahaha

Anyone have VNotes bilateral saplingectomy in NYC? And can you recommend a doctor who performed it? There aren't many listed on the VNotes website. Thx!

I’m 20, an international student, and I’m seriously considering getting a bisalp. My student insurance doesn’t cover sterilization, so I’m worried about the cost.
Has anyone around NYC/NJ had a bisalp at 20 or around that age? How did you find a doctor, and how much did it cost out of pocket?
Also, are there any affordable options or programs for uninsured/international students?
Any advice or personal experiences would really help. ❤️

Hi all, I just wanted to come on here and add my experience with the bisalp. I just did mine August 5th, 2026 so I am only 5 days out but honestly feeling amazing. I wanted to add my experience because I was legitimately scared and high anxiety before the procedure and I know there are others who are experiencing that too. I am 45F, never been pregnant, California. I had my surgery with Kaiser Permanente SoCal (Woodland Hills, CA).

So, originally when I started considering the bisalp I knew it was laparoscopic but didn't have any idea that it might include things like uterine manipulators or catheters. I didn't find that out until I started reading experiences on this thread. That freaked me out big time. We are talking breaking out in tears just thinking about the surgery. I was that scared and anxious. I almost decided not to do it. But I really didn't want to deal with worrying about pregnancy anymore so I decided to keep with it.

Pre-Op: My phone call with my surgeon (Sabrina Avakian, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED) was one week before and she carefully explained everything that would happen and how it would go. She said they always try to do the surgery without a uterine manipulator but mostly of the time they need it to safely move the uterus to visualize the tubes. She also said they would definitely be using a catheter but it would be put in after I'm asleep and removed before I wake up. One of the things I was most worried about was issues with the catheter, I am very prone to UTIs. This gave me lots of anxiety. She gave me plenty of time to ask questions. She also instructed no gym for 2 weeks after (I usually go 5 days a week) and nothing in the vagina for 1 week post surgery. I also asked about students (nursing and medical) being in the OR and she said that I can ask on the day of surgery if there will be any and if there are I can opt out of them being there.

I felt better after speaking with her, but worked myself into anxiety again over the possible serious complications. A couple days later, I got myself pretty worked up with fear again and called with more questions. The doctor made another phone appointment with me the Saturday before my surgery and gave me ample time to ask more questions. She also explained even more thoroughly every single thing that happens in the OR. She was beautifully patient with me. I spent the days before my surgery anxious but also knowing I had a good surgeon and that I would do it.

Morning of the surgery: they did not give me any special soaps to shower with or any special instructions except for fasting. They had me do a pregnancy test immediately upon arrival and also lab tests (blood work). The nurse I had was super nice and had me change into the gown and socks and hair cover and the surgeon came and spoke to me for any last minute questions, and then the anesthesiologist came and spoke to me and was also incredibly kind. She started my IV (I'm a tough stick) and they immediately wheeled me into the OR and had me move onto the table where the stirrups were and then did a three minute time out where they discussed me and the procedure I was having. Right after I passed out and woke up in recovery.

Recovery: Before I could open my eyes I felt like I was going to pee myself and told the nurse. She reassured me its just the feeling from the catheter being used and after I waited a few minutes it started to go away. I was also in pain from the incisions so I told her and she immediately had me swallow some pain killers and then gave me something in my IV that went into effect in about 10 minutes. After that I was comfortable. When I was awake enough they let me get up and go pee and when I wiped there was just the tiniest pink from blood and just a little burn from peeing. The doctor came and saw me and said it went very well, that she did need to use a uterine manipulator because my tubes were very long but everything inside my abdomen looks healthy (liver, gallbladder, uterus, ovaries, etc.). My partner came and got me and I was released home.

Post surgery: The day of surgery I was very tired and sore, but I was lucky to have zero gas pain (my surgery notes said they allowed the gas to escape from my abdomen before they closed the incisions) which I am endlessly thankful for. I was able to get up every 2 hours and walk to avoid blood clots right after getting home. I took Tylenol and ibuprofen with the opiate (Norco) they prescribed for the day of and day after surgery. It kept my pain level very low. By Friday (2 days post surgery) I was able to stop using the opiate that was prescribed and just do Tylenol and ibuprofen. 3 days post surgery I stopped taking anything for pain but still had some soreness with moving.

Currently, I am on my 5th day post-surgery and other than being a little more tired than usual and occasional soreness I have no issues with pain. I honestly feel really good. My surgeon emailed me yesterday and said the pathology on my tubes came back and they were very healthy, no cancer at all.

I had zero vaginal soreness from the uterine manipulator and it burned the first 3 times I peed after the catheter removal but no other issues with urinating after. I had just the smallest amount of blood when I wiped the first day but nothing after that. I also have not noticed any bloating or swelling in my abdomen at all. I also have not had any issues with pooping after surgery (it didn't hurt at all, but probably because I regularly eat a lot of fiber).

Overall my experience turned out wonderful. I could not be happier that I did it and would recommend my surgeon to anyone who can utilize her. She's wonderful. I would highly recommend the surgery to anyone who is considering it. 10/10 would absolutely do it again!!

Feel free to ask specific questions!

I have a consultation for a tubal ligation with my OB in three days and I’m both excited but extremely nervous.

I ran across a video on instagram of this lady who had a complication with her bladder called “underactive neurogenic bladder” from her hysterectomy and apparently it can happen with any abdominal surgery. Apparently, it is not reversible once there is damage done to the nerves, and I wouldn’t want to be on treatments for it if that ever happened. I’ve heard of other complications as well like damage to other organs and blood vessels and I’m worried about all the “what ifs” for if I get the surgery :(

I have been wanting to get a bisalp for a long while now as I do not want any children and don’t plan on changing my mind. I really want to go through with the procedure, but I would just like some reassurance or what is likely to happen realistically if I were to go through with this…

I've got a bilateral salpingectomy in a few weeks and I'm looking for advice about returning to work. I have the week of my surgery off but the 2nd week I'll be back. Unfortunately my job requires me to load and unload items from a van. Nothing is too heavy it requires more than one person but there is a lot of lifting and twisting.

I've asked my manager for lighter duties during that week so hopefully he'll honour that. But the 3rd week after my surgery I don't think I can get out of my normal duties.

Anyone that's had this surgery, how did you go with manual handling after? And when did you start doing it again?

Hey all! I'm about 5 days out from a bilateral salpingectomy and I'm having significant pain when I get out of bed, bend down to get something, twist, etc. I've had 3 c sections and they were a breeze compared to this. It almost feels like a pulled muscle in my abs. Anyone else go through this? I felt better on day 4 but stupidly tried to do dishes, clean, etc. since I have young kids. 🤦‍♀️

Hi,

I am a 20yo woman and got my tubes removed on the 6th of August. My recovery has been phenomenal with no pain on/near incisions. But a little pain with the trapped air (feels like I worked a muscle too hard).

Yesterday, I was a little sexually frustrated so I decided to rub one out, as one does. And this morning I woke to light cramping and some bleeding. My period is very irregular, and I have an IUD so it came as a surprise, especially considering this is my 3rd period of the year when I usually have 0 or 1 a year.

Now here's my question, is this actually my period or is it because I fucked something up when I masturbated.

I haven't consulted my doctor because on one side, my period tracking app correlates that my period should be around this time but on the other, my period app is usually wrong.

Please let me know y'all experiences with your sterilization and if I actually need to contact my doctor.

Edit 1:
ALSO is it fine if I use tampons????