How to get your tubes tied, even if you're only 21.

I'm not 21. I'm almost 25. But I WAS 21 once. And I did, indeed, get my tubes tied at that age. Here's how you, too, can convince the doctor to help you stay childfree by having a tubal ligation.

1. Contact your local Planned Parenthood. Explain that you want to have a tubal ligation done and that you're fairly young. Ask them which doctors they would suggest going to. I've been told that there are some doctors who plain won't give you what you're looking for unless you're a certain age.


2. Before meeting the doctor that you've been referred to, thoroughly research as many different forms of birth control as you can. This way, when your doctor tries to convince you to use one of them, you can say that you're aware of many different forms of birth control, but that you want something permanent. A lot of doctors will then try convince you to get an IUD because they are good for a really long time, so make certain that you know all about the IUD and the benefits and risks associated with it.


3. Do not, under any circumstances, lead the doctor into believing that you might one day change your mind. If you say "Besides, I can always adopt if I change my mind...", they probably won't give you your tubal ligation.


4. If you are married or in a committed, long term relationship, bring your spouse/partner. No, you shouldn't have to. But, yes, it helps. Besides, they should know what you're going to go through, what the risks are, etc. If you feel you can't bring your partner with you, you should either reconsider the procedure or the relationship. Perhaps both.


5. Explain to the doctor that this is your decision. No, you don't want kids. You've thought this through, sat with the decision, etc. "If you won't do the procedure, I'll go find somebody who will. I'm going to have this done. Period."


6. Be willing to "look at this literature" of various different forms. But say that while you're willing to look at it, you've done the research already. You still want to set up an appointment.


7. Schedule your surgery for first thing in the morning. Call the doctor the day before to "double-check your appointment time". (Mine called late at night to "double-check that you were cancelling... you didn't call." This was because she seemed to think she'd convinced me to use an IUD, which, trust me, she hadn't.)


8. If you're worried about the doc at all, find a different one. This is your health we're talking about.

On another note, while I'm a big fan of people getting "fixed", if you're unsure, at all, don't do it. You'll worry, your doc will worry, and maybe you'll regret it. There are more temporary forms of birth control, even long-term ones like the IUD.

Think before you leap.