A woman who won a four-year battle with doctors to be sterilised at 30, sparked a furious debate during an appearance on Loose Women.

Holly Brockwell, 31, a writer from London, had wanted the procedure since she was 26, but was refused countless times.

Eventually her GP relented and she was placed on a referral list, successfully undergoing the operation last year.

However her reasons behind her decision: wanting to focus on her career and not wanting to rely on contraception - which had already failed her once causing an unwanted pregnancy - caused a mixed bag of reaction among viewers watching.

Some sided with Holly, whose boyfriend Zack, 25, supports her views. Taking to social media one person on Twitter fumed: 'Why is it so difficult to deal with women who don't want children?'

Holly Brockwell was sterilised last year aged 30, she fought for four years to go through with the surgery to seal her fallopian tubes

She appeared on Loose Women with her partner Zack, 25, who shares the same thoughts as Holly about their desire not to have children

Viewers took to social media to debate Holly's deicison, with some branding her 'pure selfish' and others praising her for her decision

'I think Holly Brockwell is selfish, that's my opinion any way,' countered one upset viewer.

However, others quickly took to social media to praise the writer for making the controversial decision.

'It's her body, she's clearly researched her options well. Women aren't here just to reproduce,' agreed one.

'Well done Holly for speaking out, not all women want children and no one should be judged for their own personal choice,' said another.

FEMALE STERILISATION Also called tubal occlusion, the surgery involves blocking or sealing the fallopian tubes. A keyhole incision is made in the stomach and two metal clips are placed on the fallopian tubes. Or a hysterectomy - where the uterus is completely removed - can also be performed. It is a permanent surgery and according to the NHS is 'more than 99 per cent effective' as a form of contraception. It does not protect against sexually transmitted infection. Back in the 1970s, about 40,000 UK women a year were being sterilised. In 2015, that figurer was around 8,000. Advertisement

Holly nodded in agreement with her boyfriend Zack, 25, who joined her on the daytime show as he explained that their shared feelings on parenthood were what initially drew them together.

'I have never wanted children, it has never been part of my life plan,' he told the panel.

'It’s one of the reasons we became a couple because we were quite similar-minded.

'We are very much about being career driven and career focused and neither of us ever saw children as a possibility.'

Holly revealed after refusing to try the contraceptive coil and taking articles arguing in favour of sterilisation, she finally managed to persuade her GP she was serious about her decision.

Her four year battle resulted in him giving her a referral for the operation.

Holly fiercely pointed out that her age should never have been an issue when making her decision, suggesting that teenage girls were allowed to bring children into the world.

‘At 16 you’re allowed to say you want to bring a child into the world and that’s a bigger decision because it affects you and the parent and the child and society.

'So I feel at 16 if you’re old enough to say that why not say the opposite?'

Many viewers were in agreement with Holly, sharing their own stories of not wanting children and that women shouldn't be placed under so much pressure

Holly and Zack spoke candidly about their opinions on parenthood and suggested that age shouldn't be an issue when it comes to discussing sterilisation

The technology journalist, who is absolutely sure she would never change her mind, had asked for the procedure every day since she was 26 but doctors refused because of her age, offering to give her boyfriend a vasectomy instead.

She said that her operation has saved the NHS more money than if she had remained on contraception, especially with the side effects she often encountered.

'If you look at the figures it would have cost them to keep me on the pill my entire fertile life that would have been higher than the cost of the operation.

'The NHS is better off for having done it.'

Loose Women airs weekdays, on ITV at 12.30pm