A woman has revealed why she decided to get sterilised at the age of just 31 - to help save the planet.

Gwynn Mackellen, from San Francisco, explained how she has made the decision to not have any children as it's the best thing she can do to help the environment.

Speaking on This Morning, the recycling consultant, 31, said she would 'feel bad' if she had children because of the 'negative impact' it would have on the planet.

However, her decision was branded 'crazy' by British viewers, with one suggesting she was using the environment as an 'excuse' because she's 'not motherly'.

Gwynn Mackellen, from San Francisco, (pictured in hospital) has revealed why she decided to get sterilised at the age of just 31 - to help save the planet

Explaining her decision to get sterilised, Gwynn said: 'I would feel bad bringing another person in the world.

'All the other choices that you can make [to help the environment]] are very small in comparison. Once you have that person they have impact, and they could have offspring.'

Gwynn said that she doesn't feel guilty about being born, but wanted to make sure she didn't add to the environmental problems the world faces.

She explained: 'I didn't ask to be born, so it wasn't something i caused. But i feel responsible that any negative impact I have ends with me.'

Speaking on This Morning, Gwynn explained how not having children is the best thing she can do to help the environment

However, viewers were not convinced by her reasoning, describing her decision as 'crazy'

When questioned by This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield whether she thought they were 'selfish' for having children, Gwynn said: 'I don't want to judge somebody else.'

However, she added that she would like to see more education on the environmental benefits of having no children or fewer children.

'It's something that's just not talked about, even though it's the most effective thing we can do to reduce our environmental impact,' she said.

However, Gwynn failed to convince This Morning viewers, who branded her reasoning as 'ridiculous'.

One commented: '[E]veryone can do what they want and have their opinions, but sterilised at 31 is crazy.'

Gywnn, a recycling consultant, said she doesn't feel guilty about being born, but wanted to make sure she didn't add to the environmental problems the world faces

This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield asked whether she thought they were 'selfish' for having children. Gwynn said she doesn't want to judge others

HOW DOES FEMALE STERILISATION WORK? 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 is more than 99 per cent effective as a form of contraception. Advertisement

Another added: 'She got sterilised to save the planet... If we all did that it would be the end of the human race!'

Others suggested she was using the environment as an 'excuse' because she isn't 'motherly'.

However, some viewers had more sympathy with Gwynn for her decision to get sterilised.

One viewer said: 'Good on her, there's way too many people on the planet and we've already destroyed it almost beyond repair.'

Another posted on Twitter: 'I've been trying to get sterilised for 6 years but because there's no medical reason for me to have one no one will even talk to me about it'.