Holly Brockwell, a 29-year-old from the UK, explains to This Morning why she wants to be sterilised and never wants children.

A woman who admitted she did not want to have children has won a four-year battle to be medically sterilised.

Holly Brockwell, from London, became the focus of abuse and online trolling last year after writing an article for the BBC, stating she did not want to have children.

"If I say I don't think I'd be a good parent, for instance, people respond, 'Everyone feels that way at first'," the now-30-year-old wrote. "If I say I can't imagine ever having the time, energy or money, I'm told I'll 'find a way to manage'. If I say I want to devote my life to my career, they say I'm 'selfish'."



The journalist initially inquired with her GP about being sterilised when she was 26, but doctors repeatedly told her she was "too young" for the procedure. They instead suggested her boyfriend undergo a vasectomy.

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However after a "four-year battle with the [UK national health service] NHS", Brockwell has had her tubes tied.

HOLLY BROCKWELL/FACEBOOK UK woman Holly Brockwell has been sterilised four years after she first asked for the procedure.

The founder of tech website Gadgette is now speaking out against the harsh judgement she faced, revealing she believes a lot of it comes down to her gender.

"Many, many people have suggested that I shouldn't have sex if I'm not intending to reproduce, which is an opinion so old that I can see the cobwebs. No one says 'just cross your legs' to men wanting a vasectomy," she told the Independent.

"Sadly, I know from experience that those comments can come from healthcare professions as well as friends, family and strangers. I don't know of many men who've been told they're 'broken' or 'heartless', or that they're a 'waste of life'."

I feel like I'm still going to be saying "It's cheaper for the NHS than keeping me on the pill" when I'm dead — Holly Brockwell (@holly) May 15, 2016 Things I regret

- Smashing my phone

- Supporting HD DVD over BluRay

- Not buying Amazon stock

Things I don't regret

- Getting my tubes tied — Holly Brockwell (@holly) May 15, 2016

​The 30-year-old told UK TV show This Morning that the procedure was far more cost-effective than staying on the contraceptive pill.

Holly Brockwell/FACEBOOK The journalist was forced to temporarily close down her Twitter account last year after she was abused for her decision not to have kids.

"It's cheaper than actually having a child on the NHS, it's cheaper than having IVF and all sorts of other things that the NHS offers," she said.

"The 'lifestyle choice' argument is a silly one to me, because having children is a lifestyle choice. Both should be equally respected, surely? Why is one more OK than the other?"

Brockwell is hoping her lengthy campaign will encourage women in a similar position, saying she'd like to see them "respected and listened to" should they seek sterilisation.

"No one takes a permanent, painful operation lightly, and while it's the doctor's responsibility to make sure it's the right thing for the patient, a blanket 'no' with no discussion isn't helpful to anyone."

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