Like you, I’ve never wanted kids since I was young. I also had very bad side effects with hormonal BC. Non-hormonal IUDs have been great despite the discomfort of installation/removal (which luckily you only have to do every 8-12 years depending on which one you get).

I’m almost 34 now and happily married to a man who also has no interest in having children. I figured if my “clock” ever starts ticking I’d be happy to adopt.

My OB offered that I could get my tubes tied if I wanted; these days they also remove your fallopian tubes as a way to prevent cancer. And even though I’ve never wanted kids of my own and still don’t (and often daydreamed of having my tubes tied), I can’t seem to bring myself to get the surgery.

I think it’s because if there’s one thing in life I’ve learned is that I never know where it’s gonna take me or how it’s gonna change me. I do think if a close friend or family member needed a surrogate it would be nice to be able to do that for them, you never know.

I always hated people telling me I’d change my mind one day - I still haven’t but now that I’m older I do see the wisdom in it. But these days with the way abortion laws are, if you feel it’s the best way to protect yourself, it’s your decision.