Does anyone know if there is a minimum age for undergoing a hysterectomy if you dont have childeren?
Reason I ask..my surgeon mentioned that he would not want to remove my uterus as I am 36, and havent had childeren. It did not really seemed to matter to him, that I didnt want to have any childeren, not now and not in the future.
He also mentioned that woman could experience a 'hollow' feeling if the uterus would be removed and could effect my sex life..What are people's view on this?
I have a supported partner and in a long term relationship. After the consultation I was a little bit confused, as it felt my views where not heard.
Hey Marie, It's always frustrating when we feel we're not being listened to, I'm sure the majority of us can relate to a doctor not listening to us!!! It would be great if doctors were actually willing to enter into a partnership of healing with us but sadly that rarely seems to happen, at least in my experience. I haven't had children and never will but personally I would only go down the hysterectomy route if I really had no other choices. It's major surgery that can take weeks or even months to recover from and it 's a major organ for a woman. If you have other options, explore them. And may be politely point out to your doctor that ultimately it's your body and it would make you feel better if you were being listened to . Good luck.
I begged the gynaecologist for a hysterectomy as I just wanted it all over and done with.. I didn't want to face the possibility of the fibroids coming back and going through it all again, I honestly couldn't cope with it again! She kept arguing that I might one day want a baby and they always take the least invasive route, I told her that at 41 years old if I was going to have a baby I would have done so by now!! I ended up having a myomectomy 18 days ago.. I just hope she made the right choice! Why can't they take our feelings and choices into account though? After all, it's our bodies and we are the ones who have had to suffer!!!
I was in a different position as wanted my fibroids sorted if poss without a hysterectomy which was first suggested as the first option, but I was in mid fifties but wasn't prepared to accept hysterectomy as the first option but only as last resort. It is your age that is mostly the problem with their reluctance as obviously hysterectomy is irreversible and it is a major operation that can cause other problems sometimes, perhaps you can look into hyster sister website and get some good advice.
Hello Anne, I was curious to know if you found a solution to suit you in the end. I am nearly 50 yrs old and have only been offered a hysterectomy for my fibroids. I am very reluctant to have major surgery if there is any chance of a less invasive treatment. Although I have large, multiple fibroids with heavy periods and abdominal distension I have decided to try and wait until menopause to see if things get better after that. Would be interested to hear your experience.
Hi Heppy I have numerous fibroids, was having constant bleeding post menopause. Had 2 hysteroscopies and one small 2 cm fibroid removed as it had a large blood supply. It was thought it was the fibroids that were causing the bleeding. Turned out it was the particular type of HRT that I was on and since starting another HRT the problem of bleeding has resolved. I understood that you can have fibroids removed by hysteroscopy if they aren't bigger than 10 cms. I am glad I didn't have a hysterectomy as the bleeding was not caused by fibroids but by the hrt but I was offered one as the first option but declined. They say that fibroids can shrink after menopause due to lack of estrogen but they might not. It really depends on how much of a bother they are and if they are affecting your quality of life. I have friends who say having a hysterectomy was the best thing they did, but for others there are other problems it can create. I had 2 hysteroscopies under a General anaesthetic and as a day surgery and a week off work. Otherwise apart from a few days extra bleeding I was fine.
Do what's right for you and discuss other options with your gynae. The first consultant who wanted to go straight to hysterectomy eventually did an explorative hysteroscopy and the second consultant removed the fibroid she thought was causing the problem, as it turned out they were both wrong and a 3rd consultant, who just happened to answer my phone call as he was passing by the phone when I was phoning for my biopsy results from the hysteroscopy told me it might be the hrt and to try a non continuous one instead and he was right. Wish I'd spoken to him first.
Hope you find the best solution for you. Best wishes.
