20% of women "might" regret a sterilization procedure, so the NHS often denies access.
1) The "regret" bogeyman is rolled out for any procedure deviating from social norms. For example, gender affirming care has an almost 0% regret rate, but "regret" is still used to gatekeep care. The rate of regret is not the factor. It is resistance to the idea people can choose not to follow the "norm".
2) People can choose things in life knowing they might regret them. The possibility of regret is part of our freedom. Only the person undergoing the procedure can decide if the risk is acceptable to them.
3) A life with regrets is not a lesser life. A life paternalistically shielded from regret is a diminished life.
https://www.theguardian.com/society/2026/may/01/female-sterilisation-nhs-access-questions
