My aim is to ensure female sterilisation is available for women who wish to have it on the NHS.

As female sterilisation is the most common contraception in the world, I was surprised to discover that women are being denied sterilisation in England. We are told it is not something available to us on the NHS due to our age, body shape, relationship status or the number of children we have. In some areas sterilisation is no longer an option for healthy women, despite the NHS website saying: ‘Almost any woman can be sterilised, but it should only be considered by women who do not want any more children or do not want children at all.’

Many women wish to have permanent contraception. Although the female operation does have risks, the alternative contraception offered to them are not risk free or permanent. Women live in fear of contraception failing and needing terminations. As contraception is needed from teenage to after menopause many women are instead having multiple procedures for coils or implants. Each time they can be painful and stressful. Many women experience side effects of contraception such as irregular bleeding, heavy bleeding, decreased sexual desire , weight gain, low mood and some cancers. All this could be avoided by one operation but many women are sadly being refused this choice.

Men are able to get a vasectomy/ male sterilisation much more easily on the NHS. Vasectomies are available to healthy men. They rarely get turned away due to age, relationship status or the number of children they have fathered. If they make this decision it is respected by health care professionals and there are local services available. It is often recommended that women ask their partners to get vasectomies. Although the procedures do differ due to anatomy, women are simply not being given the same control over our bodies, while we are the ones at risk of pregnancy. Women are left vulnerable if the man’s procedure fails or if sexually assaulted by another man. This is not a fair system.

Women should be able to make informed decisions about their fertility and permanent contraception, like men. There is a fear women will change their minds and this is often overriding the decision. Men do not face this barrier when asked the same questions. Women know their own minds and they should be listened to and their choice respected. Studies have shown that very few individuals change their mind after sterilisation, especially if done over 30. However, females under 40 are especially turned away when they ask.

This is a woman’s rights issue as we are being denied true choice in our medical care. We find the difference in the health provision for men and women unjust. This discrimination is happening repeatedly to women all over the country. There is a void in the guidelines for professionals to follow, with many policies out of date. This is impacting care at the point of access. We feel the government has a duty to make sure NHS services have clear guidelines which uphold human rights to fair treatment based on sex equality. 

When it comes to woman’s health the focus is on motherhood. Those who are absolutely certain they don’t want future pregnancies are being overlooked. Access to sterilisation should be equal regardless of sex. Women should be given this choice and not keep facing discrimination when their preference is to be sterilised.