Fuck yeah. I got fixed a few years after the ACA (Obamacare) was enacted. Prior to the ACA almost no providers covered voluntary sterilization, or there were difficult hoops to jump. Now I make a point to scream to all my ladies in the states, your health insurance is absolutely REQUIRED to provide coverage for female sterilization.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 7 months ago (1 children)

While this is noble of you, it is absolutely harder to get a hysterectomy than a vasectomy. Not because insurance won’t cover it, but because many doctors won’t do it unless you’ve had kids, or a husband’s “permission”, or are older.

[–] Asclepiaz 7 points 7 months ago (1 children)

Yeah I hear you, I live in the PNW and it still took me three obgyns before a doctor would finally approve. At the time I was a child free never pregnant 22 year old,. The doctor still required that I write a letter stating I understand it's irreversible. Still pretty condescending imo. You aren't wrong, it's hard and depending where you are in the us impossible to access humane women's healthcare.

But you are wrong to assume women seeking sterilizations all get hysterectomies. There are at least a handful of options, I got Essure but I think that it's no longer on the market. I walked out of my appointment, still more of an ordeal for ladies but not necessarily as dramatic as a hysterectomy.

[–] bluemellophone 2 points 7 months ago (2 children)

That’s a pretty big decision for a 22 year old. I understand your point about it feeling condescending, but I can’t help but feel like the doctor was doing you a massive favor. It may have been an inconvenience but that’s better than the chance of a lifetime of regret.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 7 months ago

People have kids at 22. That's a really big permanent decision too that completely changes the trajectory of one's life. If having a kid at 22 is ok, then taking steps to make sure that you don't have one should also be ok. Otherwise that is promoting a double standard.

[–] Asclepiaz 7 points 7 months ago

A 22 year old is an adult. I should have the ability to make 100% of decisions regarding my body. If a mistake was made it was mine to make. I could get a middle finger tattooed on my face without a note. I can have a whole litter of babies and no one makes me write a letter. So imo you can kindly fuck off.