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Sterilization: Difference between revisions
→Seeking sterilization
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'''Sterilization''' means many kinds of body modification that make a person's body so that it can never make children. Sterilization is part of many kinds of gender-validating [[surgery|surgeries]] that [[transgender]] and [[transsexual]] people (including some [[nonbinary]] people) may want in order to change their reproductive organs and genitals ("[[bottom surgery]]"). However, in many places, transgender and [[intersex]] people get sterilized even if they don't want to be. | '''Sterilization''' means many kinds of body modification that make a person's body so that it can never make children. Sterilization is part of many kinds of gender-validating [[surgery|surgeries]] that [[transgender]] and [[transsexual]] people (including some [[nonbinary]] people) may want in order to change their reproductive organs and genitals ("[[bottom surgery]]"). However, in many places, transgender and [[intersex]] people get sterilized even if they don't want to be. | ||
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Some kinds of bottom surgery that generally involve sterilization include some kinds of [[Bottom_surgery#changes_to_the_gonads|changes to the gonads]], such as [[castration]] (taking away gonads of any kind), [[orchiectomy]] (taking away the testicles), [[emasculation]] (taking away the penis and testicles), and [[oophorectomy]] (taking away the ovaries). It also includes many kinds of [[hysterectomy]] (taking away at least some of the uterus), [[vaginectomy]] (taking away the vagina), and alternatives to hysterectomy such as [[tubal ligation]] (tying the fallopian tubes) and [[uterine ablation]] (stopping the menstrual flow). [[Genital nullification]] can involve sterilization. Of all these, [[health insurance]] that covers birth control usually covers vasectomy and tubal ligation, even in people with no health problems that require them to get sterilized. | Some kinds of bottom surgery that generally involve sterilization include some kinds of [[Bottom_surgery#changes_to_the_gonads|changes to the gonads]], such as [[castration]] (taking away gonads of any kind), [[orchiectomy]] (taking away the testicles), [[emasculation]] (taking away the penis and testicles), and [[oophorectomy]] (taking away the ovaries). It also includes many kinds of [[hysterectomy]] (taking away at least some of the uterus), [[vaginectomy]] (taking away the vagina), and alternatives to hysterectomy such as [[tubal ligation]] (tying the fallopian tubes) and [[uterine ablation]] (stopping the menstrual flow). [[Genital nullification]] can involve sterilization. Of all these, [[health insurance]] that covers birth control usually covers vasectomy and tubal ligation, even in people with no health problems that require them to get sterilized. | ||
How easily a person can persuade a doctor to sterilize [[singular they|them]] depends on that person's [[sex]], not because of physical differences, but because of [[sexism|sexist]] attitudes in society. It is relatively easy to persuade a doctor to sterilize a person who was [[Sexes#Assigned male at birth|assigned male at birth (AMAB)]] or a person who is perceived as a man (PPM). If such a person asks for the most simple kind of sterilization, called a vasectomy, doctors will usually do it in the same day, with no complaint. It is most difficult to persuade a doctor to sterilize people who were [[Sexes#Assigned female at birth|assigned female at birth (AFAB)]] or people who are perceived as women (PPW). This is because of [[Sexism|misogynistic]] views in society that place a woman's value in her ability to have children. For PPW, doctors will try their hardest to talk them out of it, and health insurance companies often force a mandatory one to six month waiting period for AFAB people before sterilization "in case you change your mind". | How easily a person can persuade a doctor to sterilize [[singular they|them]] depends on that person's [[sex]], not because of physical differences, but because of [[sexism|sexist]] attitudes in society. It is relatively easy to persuade a doctor to sterilize a person who was [[Sexes#Assigned male at birth|assigned male at birth (AMAB)]] or a person who is perceived as a man (PPM). If such a person asks for the most simple kind of sterilization, called a vasectomy, doctors will usually do it in the same day, with no complaint. It is most difficult to persuade a doctor to sterilize people who were [[Sexes#Assigned female at birth|assigned female at birth (AFAB)]] or people who are perceived as women (PPW). This is because of [[Sexism|misogynistic]] views in society that place a woman's value in her ability to have children. For PPW, doctors will try their hardest to talk them out of it, and health insurance companies often force a mandatory one to six month waiting period for AFAB people before sterilization "in case you change your mind".{{citation needed}} | ||
Before you go to the doctor's appointment, find all the relevant paperwork and consent forms on the websites of the doctor and your health insurance company. Bring the paperwork with you to the appointment. The doctor might try to postpone things by saying that not all the paperwork was on hand. They might also try to put off signing and submitting the paperwork, telling you to do it in another appointment, or to mail it in. If the doctor agrees to sterilize you, make sure you fill out and hand in all the paperwork during that same appointment, or else it could get put off for months longer. | Before you go to the doctor's appointment, find all the relevant paperwork and consent forms on the websites of the doctor and your health insurance company. Bring the paperwork with you to the appointment. The doctor might try to postpone things by saying that not all the paperwork was on hand. They might also try to put off signing and submitting the paperwork, telling you to do it in another appointment, or to mail it in. If the doctor agrees to sterilize you, make sure you fill out and hand in all the paperwork during that same appointment, or else it could get put off for months longer. | ||
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Q: "Why don't you go on the Pill instead?" (A kind of temporary | Q: "Why don't you go on the Pill instead?" (A kind of temporary birth control they'll try to get you to use instead, if you have a uterus.) | ||
A: "My concerns about the Pill include that it works by changing one's hormone balance. I don't want to do that." If you have past experience with the Pill, it would be appropriate to talk about it. | A: "My concerns about the Pill include that it works by changing one's hormone balance. I don't want to do that." If you have past experience with the Pill, it would be appropriate to talk about it. | ||
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A: "There are women (or men) who don't have children, and they are very real women (or men)." Or, "I would be pleased to not be a real woman (or man)." However, it might not be wise to hint at nonbinary gender identity to a doctor with such a crude attitude. | A: "There are women (or men) who don't have children, and they are very real women (or men)." Or, "I would be pleased to not be a real woman (or man)." However, it might not be wise to hint at nonbinary gender identity to a doctor with such a crude attitude. | ||
Q: "If you don't want children you're mentally ill, so you can't be trusted to make such a serious decision." This is also not a question. If you hear this from a doctor, you are probably better of finding a different doctor. If you truly have no other options, one possible response is | |||
A: If you think I'm unable to make a decision about my own body, then I certainly can't be a parent and make decisions about a child's body. | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||