A young woman has been left outraged after a doctor refused to 'tie her tubes' in case she meets 'Mr Right' later in life. Olivia Downs, 23, says she visited her doctor to enquire about tubal ligation, a surgical procedure for female sterilisation, knowing she doesn't want to have children.
The procedure, which takes only 30 minutes to carry out, involves permanently blocking, clipping or removing the fallopian tubes to prevent an unwanted pregnancy. But as it's a permanent birth control, the doctor outright refused her request, claiming she's only young and could change her mind about parenthood.
Speaking on TikTok, Olivia said: "I never want children, I have had this made up in my mind since I was old enough to think of the concept.
"It's not in my five-year-plan, my 10-year-plan, or my 50-year-plan, I don't want them."
She claims the doctor went on to talk her through less permanent options that are "just as efficient" at preventing unwanted pregnancies - mainly referencing the IUD.
Imitating her doctor, Olivia added: "We put it in your uterus and you cramp and bleed for three months."
After sharing her experience on social media, Olivia, from America, was inundated with comments from women who have also been denied the surgical procedure.
One user said: "Keep fighting. I spent a decade trying to get mine done. You will find the right doctor. It's just hell getting there."
Another user added: "Mr Right is someone who doesn't want to have kids - how hard is that to understand?"
A third user said: "I asked to get my uterus taken out at aged 25. They told me I was too young and then asked if I had gotten my husband's permission. I told her this isn't the 1950s."
One more user added: "It's so frustrating to not be able to control this at any stage in your life and there should be more less painful, less invasive, more effective [birth controls]."
While others shared their with experience with the IUD, a contraceptive device or coil that is inserted into the uterus to prevent pregnancy, saying it has caused them a great deal of physical pain and isn't 100 per cent effective.
One user said: "An IUD is not 100 per cent effective - I know because I have one."
Another user added: "I still got pregnant with an IUD. My IUD baby is 10-years-old now."
One more user said: "I got an IUD and bled for a year straight. Not the same at all - it was awful."
Do you have a story to share? Email paige.freshwater@reachplc.com.
