I am 28 and have 2 beautiful daughters 4 1/2 & 16 months. I was 27 when my youngest was born by scheduled ceserean section. I opted to have a TL at that time because of the problems I was having with my body. My periods were very irregular - always were unless I was on the pill - and I will NEVER go on the pill again. I never knew when I was getting a period, how long it would last, how heavy it would be. I would go sometimes a year without it and then have it for a month. I have had every test imaginable done to determine what the problem was. My endocrinologist pretty much gave a blanket diagnosis of androgenic disorder. Which is just an unbalance of the male hormones (for those who are not aware - yes women have male hormones). Not only did this effect my daily life it effected me emotionally. Due to this "adrogenic disorder", and a few other issues I was told I probably wouldn't ever get pregnant. Well I am a very obstinate person at times and refuse to take no for an answer. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer in November of 1999 - at the age of 22. The doctor removed the diseased section of my cervic and said that with the surge of new cells growing that if I wanted to try and get pregnant now would be a better time than any to try (also for those that don't know the cervic, just like the liver, regenerates after being sectioned). So my husband and I decided to start trying - 11 months later we had the wonderful news that we were pregnant. About 3 months after my daughter was born we decided that since it took a while to get pregnant with our first child that we would start trying again to get pregnant. My daughter was 4 months old when we started trying - it was 3 years later that we finally found out we were pregnant. What an emotional roller coaster I was on for 3 years, wondering if this would be the month. Taking a test and seeing the negative sign - feeling like such a failure and not knowing why my body couldn't do the things that it was made to do. I would get depressed, moody, feel undesirable and withdraw - all actions which are very unhealthy to not only me but my family. When we finally did find out we were pregnant we were exstatic. I knew right away that after the baby was born I had to have a TL - I couldn't emotionally go through that turmoil again. My husband was okay with it, but hesitant, because he thought it would be nice to try for a boy. I totally understand his reasoning, but I couldn't hold out for a baby that may or may not happen, I had to do what I needed to do to be emotionally and mentally stable for the children I already birthed. So I went through with it. I nursed my baby (still do) and started to get my period at 4 months, it came each month on time like clock work - which surprised me. It was very heavy(a tampon and pad about every 2 hours), but regular. I haven't had it for the last 2 months, but that is normal for me. I have always had migraine headaches, but have experienced them less since my TL.
I don't write this to make those of you who are going through living hell right now feel like you are disregarded - you aren't. I know what it is like to feel like your body is taking you on an out of control roller coaster. I am writing for those who need to hear other sides of the story. I totally emathize with PTLS sufferers, but it isn't going to happen to everyone and yes, noone knows who it will happen to. But sometimes you just have to take that risk.
The reason we did not opt for my husband to have a vasectomy is because they have shown studies that men with vasectomies have higher prostate cancer rates. Cancer runs in my husbands family. His father is battling prostate cancer right now. I did visit this site prior to my TL, but stilll decided to proceed and I am glad I did.
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