Can I receive Communion if I had surgery for sterilization?

[godslove]

When I was in my mid thirties I had my tubes tied in order not to have anymore children. At that time I did not know that it was a sin. Now that I am closer to my faith, attend daily mass, established a good relationship with our Pastor & the priest in our parish and volunteer time to our parish I have thought of reversing the procedure but I am a fifty year old grandmother and am afraid to have surgery at my age.
Do I need to confess this to a priest and can I receive communion.

 

[Reginald_Plum]

godslove,

These links should be helpful in understanding the Church’s position on sterilization and what a Catholic’s obligations are after having such a procedure. I also included some links about Confession for you. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please contact Catholic Answers directly.

Recommended reading:
After a tubal ligation, what do I do?
Must I be celibate in my marriage?
Communion for Catholics who have had vasectomies.
Confirmed 3 years after Tubiligation

Can a hysterectomy be done for sterilization purposes?
Is a vasectomy permissible if you have ten kids?
Is medically necessary contraception a sin?
Will God hold me responsible for my husband’s decision to sterilize himself?
Why can’t I “get snipped” and then simply go to confession afterwards?

Recommended Reading on Confession:
Can you help me with my first confession?
What do I need to know for Confession after many years?
Is it acceptable for a Catholic to completely avoid Confession?
After a general absolution, must those sins be confessed privately?
Are we allowed to confessional shop?

Recommended resources:
National Catholic Bioethics Center
Pope Paul VI Institute for the Study of Human Reproduction

Humanae Vitae by Pope Paul VI

Birth Control by Catholic Answers
God, Sex, & Babies by Christopher West
That Celibate Bachelor Was Right! by Rachel Fay
Contraception and Sterilization by Catholic Answers

Contraception: Why Not? by Janet Smith (audio tape)

Good News About Sex & Marriage by Christopher West (book)