Cost of tubal ligation?

[Glamourcide]

Hi ladies,
DH and I have decided that getting my tubes tied is our best option for future family planning... I know I'm going to have a fight on my hands convincing someone to do the procedure seeing as we're so young and only have two kids but trust me, this decision has been over a year in the making and I'm not giving up easily.

I'm just wondering what sort of costs are associated with tube-tying. In my situation, DH and I do not have any PHI so everything would be paid cash - can we claim anything back on Medicare or would we have to have health insurance do claim anything? Does it have to be a private hospital or can I get it through the public system? What sort of hospital stay is required?
I asked my mum about her experience today (had her tubes tied when I was about 5 or 6) but she never wants to talk about any of this stuff - just said, 'Nobody will do it, you're too young' and said it 'cost a fortune, I was at the Mater', so no help there :/

Just looking for any advice from those who've been there, TIA

[melbel]

You have two options: Get it done privately and pay the costs upfront or have it done publically and go onto a waiting list. I believe the wating lists for public tubal ligation are up to a couple of years long atm because it is not classed as urgent surgery but it would be best to check what the individual wait times are like in your area. As for the hospital stay I believe it is an over nighter or two night stay at most as most of them are done laparoscopically nowadays so just a couple of tiny cuts. Medicare does have a rebate for the surgery part but if you went privately you would have a gap to pay on this plus the anaethetists fee and the cost of the hospital bed so maybe a coouple of thousand dollars to fork out.

[Loula]

My surgery to remove both my tubes with a lap wad over $7000 (2008) then I had a bowel specialist fee on top of that. But they did a lot of work 5 hrs.

I know one Dr I consulted with was going to do the op in day surgery so I think you may not have to stag over night but this would depend on your dr procedures.

GL

[aussienic]

My neighbour got it done through the Public system at no cost to her. Her bub was 9 months old at the time and she had signed up for it when she was in hospital after having her

She was also 26 at the time. I did ask her how she managed to get it done so easy as she is under 30 but she said she was very certain of what she wanted and told the Drs this..

[Mildez]

It wont cost you anything through the public system except the wait. It depends on which hospital you plan on having it as to the length of wait. Where I work it is as little as 3-6months at the very most. Although bigger hospitals I imagine would have larger waiting lists. You might struggle to get a Dr to do it at your age although I do know others to have it done younger then yourself. They might suggest something like the implanon/IUD until your seen to be at an older age.

[HotI]

I think a vasectomy can be a less involved operation (possibly less expensive too) if you wanted to investigate this as an option whilst you researching.

[Glamourcide]

Thanks for your replies, ladies, I really appreciate it!! I might talk to my GP and ask what the waiting list for public is like, I probably won't be able to get it done until after Christmas anyway because of the cost so if I can save money and have a similar waiting time then I'm happy to do so.
Kate, I personally would LOVE for DH to go get a vasectomy but for some reason he is just 100% opposed to the idea and would rather be the next Family Duggar than have anybody go near his bits with a scalpel Such a big baby!! And he's even less keen for more kids than I am, he just *really* doesn't want to 'lose his manhood'

[HotI]

Can't hurt to just 'research' it at the same time! I don't think they actually remove the man's 'manhood' just cut the tube that sends his swimmers to the outside. As women we put up with a lot to have kids and too often contraception also seems to be left to us. It's time men stand up and be the man and make some sacrifices for their family. (just my opinion)

[Glamourcide]

Oh I absolutely agree, and have presented that same argument to him only a thousand times!! I figure I've put up with the physical trauma of growing and birthing and breastfeeding two children, HE should take responsibility for contraception from now on!! I am quietly gathering info on vasectomies and present it to him every so often to see if he's changed his mind - no luck yet! Ah well... I *have* gone through two deliveries, pretty sure I can handle getting my tubes tied, too I think DH is looking at things from at least ONE valid standpoint - what if we get divorced in 15 years' time and he remarries? Me, I know no matter what happens in the future, I do not want any more children, but I suppose I cannot begrudge him the option of having more kids with someone else if it ever comes to that (not that we think it will, but I guess it pays to be realistic). I know vasectomies *can* be reversed in some cases but he's really just a big fat girl who thinks that getting the snip will make him 'less of a man' despite still being able to function sexually just the same as before. I think it's a psychological thing for him, much like a woman who has her breasts removed due to cancer - she *knows* it doesn't make her less of a woman but you can't really help but feel that way deep inside, itms??
But yes, looking into it never hurts, maybe if the waiting list is long for me to get my tubes tied he will lose patience with condoms and take the plunge!!

[megs]

Good luck Glamourcide,

My girlfriend was in a similar position to you, she was young when she had her family, had 2 children and knew that she didn't want anymore no matter what. Just so you know Dr's take the same stance on vastectomies in that they are reluctant to do them on someone young due to the whole what if you change your mind thing.

Anyway my girlfriend got her tubes done, think it was publically but not sure on that one but did have to stand up for herself.

Good luck and I hope that don't give you too much oppisition.

[Traveller]

I persuaded DH to have a vasectomy by telling him I was going to ask my GP about sterilisation, and that he would have to look after all 4 kids for a few weeks whilst I recovered. He booked himself in the next day

[~MummaBear~]

I persuaded DH to have a vasectomy by telling him I was going to ask my GP about sterilisation, and that he would have to look after all 4 kids for a few weeks whilst I recovered. He booked himself in the next day

Love it!!!

[deletedit]

Hehe mine had a vasectomy this week. He's 30, 2 kids, no questions asked, 100% free, would have been a 1 week wait but the doc who does it was away so we had to wait for his holiday to end.

Other half had sore bits for a couple of days - no stitches though, you can't even see where anything was cut. And far less risky than tubal ligation, and lower chances things will reattach and you magically get fertile again. So there's some more food for thought for him

[Catastrophic]

Thought i would open up this thread again...

Glam did you have any luck getting your tubes tied...

What are the costs to doing it privately with no PHI, or what are the waiting cost to doing it publicly...

And how do I get passed them with my age...

[Jaycee]

I'm interested in this as well. DH is currently on the waiting list for a vasectomy but I reckon it'd be at least a year away, so I thought I might research this as well.

[Catastrophic]

Bump
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[Catastrophic]

Bump...