to think that instead of being sterilised....

[fedupwithsmellyboys]

I should have asked for an hysterectomy? I am still very happy with my decision to stop being able to have children (2 boys are more than enough!) but I am so fed up with having to go through periods every bloody month when there is no need!

Is there a good reason that I can take to the doctors in order to request a removal of the annoying, not wanted womb???

[TattyDevine]

Totally! It would put you into a very sudden menopause, including the hot flushes, weight gain (potentially), change of body shape (find a menopausal woman who is not bitching about a beer gut), dry skin, dry um other things, etc.

Its not to say all women who have had a hystorectomy have these symptoms, and I believe hormone replacement therapy can help prevent many, but it is unnecessary surgery.

Did you give birth naturally or have a c-section? Its unnecessary surgery. You would have a scar, and possibly an overhang (the curse of lower abdominal surgery) - once again not everyone gets this.

My mother in law was 7 stone 10 all her adult life UNTIL she had her hysterectomy.

Don't go there!

(Not that they would and you are probably joking)

[cannydoit]

not necessarily only if they take your ovary's that would cause the menopause, but they prob would take your cervix which i dont know about you but i would miss that.

[MrsTittleMouse]

Reason 1

researcher have shown that women who have had hysterectomies are 40% more likely to suffer from urinary incontinence that those that have not had a hysterectomy. However women who are under 60 years of age did not appear to have an increase in the likelihood of becoming incontinent and it seems that the symptoms appear 5 ? 10 years after surgery. Researchers concluded that women are not counselled about the long-term health implications of hysterectomy.

Reason 2

Vaginal vault prolapse - This type of prolapse may occur following a hysterectomy, which involves the removal of the uterus. Because the uterus provides support for the top of the vagina, this condition is common after a hysterectomy, with upwards of 10% of women developing a vaginal vault prolapse after undergoing a hysterectomy. In vaginal vault prolapse, the top of the vagina gradually falls toward the vaginal opening. This may cause the walls of the vagina to weaken as well. Eventually, the top of the vagina may protrude out of the body through the vaginal opening, effectively turning the vagina inside out. A vaginal vault prolapse often accompanies an enterocele.

Reason 3

There is some evidence that removing the uterus and cervix, as is done during a total hysterectomy, can affect the quality and intensity of orgasm. That's because the uterus as well as the vaginal muscles contracts during orgasm and because the nerve pathways that are involved in sexual response and orgasm with vaginal stimulation (pelvic, hypogastric and sensory vagus nerves) may have been cut or destroyed.

There's also evidence that the cervix plays a major role in orgasm. First, it dilates to improve the likelihood of conception. Second, it is very sensitive to touch, so the pressure of the penis on the outside of the cervix can stimulate nerve endings that trigger an orgasm. In women who say this pressure is a trigger for orgasm, many find they're unable to orgasm after hysterectomy.

One of the studies conducted on the issue of post-hysterectomy orgasm found about one in five women reported fewer orgasms after a total hysterectomy. Additionally, other studies find significant differences in the frequency of orgasm in women who don't have a uterus and/or cervix compared to women who still have those organs.

--------------

I found all these on respectable medical websites in less than five minutes. Seriously, hysterectomy is one of my big fears as I get older (and I have completely finished my family, so don't give a stuff about fertility). Periods are nothing compared to the risks of major surgery and the long term problems

[bugsylugs]

If you are just wanting to get rid of those pesky periods? mirena is more effective than sterilisation at 5 yrs and in the majority of women causes lighter or no periods by about 6-12 months of use. Agree with the above. There are major disadvantages of hysterectomy but also some advantages. Even if only the womb is removed, in a significant proportion of women an early menopause will result so either hrt with associated risk/ benefits or other mediaction will be needed to prevent ostoporosis on a daily basis until mid 50's. Use of depo injection as a bridge to mirena or implant may lead to quicker cessation of periods.

[expatinscotland]

Endometrial ablation often stops periods permanently without hormones. It's used to treat fibroids and heavy bleeding, though.

[Meglet]

Yabu.

I had a hysterectomy 2 years ago at 35, still got my ovaries though and hormones still seem to be functioning as normal. Only side effect seems to be that my IBS has got worse, possibly due to abdominal adhesions.

It's a major op, can't do a thing for 2 weeks, resting for another month then another month of getting back to normal. You really don't want to have one unless it's essential.

[ILoveYouToo]

I'm marking my place on this thread with interest; I've got a prolapsing uterus, and I have endometriosis, so knowing what a major op the 'lift and tape' thingy for uterine prolapse is, I had thought maybe I should just go for a hysterectomy, since I don't want any more children. I hadn't looked into it much ( since I used to be a HCP), but MrsTittlemouse's post gave me pause for thought.

[fedupwithsmellyboys]

I gave birth both times naturally. I don't understand the worry about going through the menopause early seen as we have to go through it at some point and as I already said I am totally done with having any more kids

[MrsTittleMouse]

Iloveyoutoo - I hope I haven't terrified you. There is also evidence that some women have an improved sex life after a hysterectomy, but that is when is to treat major health problems which are seriously effecting the woman's quality of life, not just to avoid periods, which is what the OP is suggesting.

In my case I can feel my uterus pull up into my abdomen and contract, and it is an important part of my orgasms, so I know that a hysterectomy would seriously impact my sex life. It's a big part of why I feel so strongly about it - as well as the old culture of male doctors whipping out womens' bits without a thought to sexual function, something that I don't think has completely gone away (personal experience).

[MrsTittleMouse]

Fedup - early menopause is linked to osteoporosis and an increased risk of heart disease.

[ILoveYouToo]

MrsTittleMouse No you haven't scared me (well, a bit, but that's good...). I'm glad because I'd been vaguely thinking about the subject for a while, and this has made me think about it properly, which will make me look into it. I should have done so in the first place, but the material you quoted has focused my mind!

Thank you.

[Thingumy]

I've had one at 31.

You don't go into a sudden menopause as if you are a certain age ie under 50-they like you to keep your ovaries (unless they are diseased).

It's obviously a very major op (5 days in hospital for me with a few niggles after my op) with 6-8 weeks +more recovery time.

My periods were horrendous -flooding,horrendous pain and anaemia and I had a pretty major prolapse hence why my gynae offered me the op.

If you have major problems with your periods that heavy duty meds won't sort out,I would seek a appointment with your gynae to discuss your options.

Hysterectomy is the last option imo and there are side effects.

(Ps I have thankfully remained a size 8-10 so we all don't end up like barren whales )

[MrsTittleMouse]

You're welcome. :)

There is a good website here - www.hysterectomy-association.org.uk/ that has forums where women can discuss their experiences - it's where I found the first quote (which is from The Lancet - one of the most prestigous medical journals). It might be helpful if you're seriously thinking about it.

[Thingumy]

Oh and I can orgasm as well as the next person.

It just feels different as I no longer have a cervix but I can (and dh) very much feel my orgasm.

[Thingumy]

Have you had a hysterectomy then too Mrs?

[MrsTittleMouse]

No, I haven't. It's something that could easily be in my future though, particularly after menopause, because of medical conditions that I have, so it's something that I have thought about.

I completely believe you that you have avoided the serious side-effects and that's great. :) After all in the example that I gave 10% had a vaginal prolapse which meant that 90% didn't! It's just that in my case I know that my uterus forms an important part of my sex life, so I'm pretty much certain that I would be one of the women who couldn't orgasm properly if I had a hysterectomy.

I also realise that hysterectomy does have it's place in the range of treatments, but I do think that it's been over-used in the past by doctors with a whip-it-out mentality, and I think that that culture hasn't completely gone away.

And I was responding to the OP who doesn't have any medical conditions that would make a hysterectomy worthwhile. I mean, a 10% chance of vaginal prolapse if you have cancer, or if you have such severe bleeding that your life is put on hold every month, well that's a risk worth taking. A 10% chance of vaginal prolapse because you don't much fancy periods doesn't make any sense to me.

[Thingumy]

I think you'll be very hard pushed to find a surgeon who'll want to perform a serious op such as a hysterectomy on any woman (young or older) who hasn't the medical need for one.

I had the option of having my prolapse repaired but was told the likelihood of needing further surgery would be likely in someone my age.I couldn't face having repairs every 10 or so years so decided that having the hysterectomy would be beneficial,which it has been.

I know several younger women (30-40's) who feel like new women now they have had the op,so it's not all doom and gloom.

Lots of us are relieved to get rid of our wombs

[borderslass]

I had a hysterectomy at 30 due to being extremely ill every month because of fibroids I had to beg GP to send me to see specialist at the hospital but it wasn't until DD2 was 5 she would consider it,Dr at hospital actually apologised to me because of the wait.

Although it changed my life in a big way it took a long time to recover from.I am now at the age of 40 on HRT due to menopause and have probably been going through it for at least 2 years.

You probably wont get any DR to perform a hysterectomy just because periods are annoying.