Uterine fibroids: hysterectomy or not?

[yakamoza]

A question to those who had uterine fibroids or other conditions that may have required a hysterectomy.

I had an appointment during which the doc confirmed uterine fibroids and said they needed to be removed. The only option he presented to me was a hysterectomy which I would prefer not to have. My mother had it for the same reasons and it massively affected her hormones, which her doctors told her it wouldn't. Her ovaries were kept intact and this is why her doctor was also reassuring her that her hormones would not be affected. However, having done some research, I found plenty of material that says that even if the ovaries are kept intact, they can eventually stop functioning altogether or cease functioning properly and this is why the hormonal balance is disrupted as a result of a hysterectomy.

I am wondering if anyone else has any experience with uterine fibroids and hysterectomy? How did it feel to have it removed? Many thanks in advance.

Life changing.
I also had cervix and ovaries removed. I was mid 40’s.
My life had been hell for 15+ years, there were days I couldn’t leave the house I was in so much pain and bleeding so heavily. I do regret the sudden overnight aging effect, I had no clue that having my ovaries removed would do that, as I assumed HRT would be a cure all. Still, no regrets. I was beyond desperate. It’s very freeing not suffering in that way anymore.
Have you had a look at hystersisters? You will get lots of info on there.

www.hystersisters.com

They always want to go straight to hysterectomy because it is easier for them.

I had a uterine fibroid embolisation (cuts off blood supply to fibroids to shrink them but not recommended if you want children).

This year I was to arrange to have an open myectomy as they did not shrink enough and my womb is still large with fibroids as a result.

If you don’t want a hysterectomy don’t get one and get a second opinion.

I had a hysterectomy three years ago at the age of 40 cos of fibroids, kept my ovaries and so far they’re hanging in there. I echo what others have said, it’s absolutely life changing. I don’t regret it for a second.

Hysterectomy at 40, wasn't meant to be as they were going to deal with the fibroid so I could have a chance at having a child, but turned out the reason that I'd felt so crap, for so long, despite being under the NHS, was a fibroid the size of a grapefruit and filling the whole uterus, so the damage was done and hysterectomy the only option. Ovaries were left, vertical scar you can barely see now, back at work after a month and realised that I'd been running on empty for probably close to a decade. Never felt so good, not offered any hormones, but then this was 23 years ago now and honestly, I had some odd symptoms at times, but not sure I noticed going through menopause. I was told that leaving the ovaries doesn't stop them declining, just that the decline is less of a jump off the cliff and more of a slide. Depends on how bad you are feeling and I had overcompensated for horrendous periods, pain, IBS type issues, anaemia for years, so was bouncing after the surgery.

I had a hysterectomy at 30 because of these. I’d finished having kids and it was the best days work I ever did. 👍

I echo a lot of the posts on here. After ten years of almost constant, heavy periods, I eventually had a hysterectomy. (Ovaries kept) What a game changer. Also I never really had a menopause, no hot flushes etc.
DDIL has just had a hysterectomy for a large growth which turned out to be cancerous so we are all very relieved that it was found.

It felt liberating to have it all removed ( TAH) and I wished I’d not fought against the surgery as long as I did. I won’t lie, surgical menopause is tough (for me) but nowhere near as tough as the years of debilitating pain before the surgery.

I had one for fibroids too.
Appalling scar, but yeah, a free life afterwards.

Hmmm, this was me. I have just had a hysterectomy. I really didn't want one. I explored every other option available over a year. I also tried to shrink them using diet and horomnes (it grew). How old are you OP? Do you have chiildren?

Mine was in an awkward place (next to cervix) with a good blood supply and the surgeon said it would be very challenging to remove just it. They actually said watch and wait was my other option. I did that a year, it grew and created a lot of pain and problems. I got 3 different opinions.

So in the end I had surgery, a week ago. Too soon to say 'amazing, life changing etc' but I hope that's me in 6-12 months.

I am 42 and felt too young to go through this but in actual fact after extensive research I realised doing it now while I could still have it done in the most minimally invasive way was probably saving me 10 years of severe pain. I have fibroids and adenomyosis and endometriosis (that was only found during surgery). Kept my ovaries.

I had a ginormous fibroid. Hysterectomy to remove my womb, kept my ovaries. That was absolutely the right decision for me - my ovaries went on functioning perfectly well and I didn’t go into menopause until normal age (mid 50’s). The whole thing was completely straightforward.

I'm on the waiting list, it's over two years apparently was 72 weeks when I joined. Looking forward to it

Had large fibroids that caused pain and flooding and severe anaemia.
Had hysterectomy at 40 kept ovaries.

I remember th e surgeon warned me that around 20% of women find ovaries still fail within a year of hysterectomy.

I have not had that issue and am five years on now. Honestly, for me it has been life changing.

Did the doctor say where the fibroids are? What symptoms do you have that negatively affect your life?
I ask because I had a huge fibroid but it was in a good place and caused no symptoms. I subsequently had 3 DCs (1DC after having the fibroid embolized). I had a hysterectomy when I was ready (late 40s). My ovaries were fine until mid 50s then I had HRT and will fight to continue it for as long as possible.
If I'd accepted the first doctor's advice, I'd have had no children.

I had huge fibroids in and outside the uterus and had a hysterectomy and removal of ovaries. I went straight on to HRT and never looked back. Brilliant.

I actually requested a hysterectomy, I nikhad complete TAH and Oophorectomy, once recovered I haven't looked back and hrt is much simpler with no progesterone needed.

I have literally last week had a hysterectomy for a massive fibroid, roughly 15cm x 15cm (waiting for hospital notes for exact size). Mine was causing me back pain, some heavy bleeding, but significantly squashing my bladder and had displaced it.
I am 44, finished my family years ago and was offered a myomectomy as well, but as fibroids can grow back again I didn’t want to be in the same position a year or two down the line and need more major surgery so opted for hysterectomy.
Mine was a total abdominal hysterectomy, fallopian tubes taken too but ovaries left as they looked healthy, as you say they can just stop working anyway but I wanted to at least have a chance of not going straight into menopause.
It’s too early to say whether it was worth it as I am still so early in my recovery, but even just not having the constant pressure on my bladder and my stomach not looking like an alien is trying to escape is worth it!
There is really good fibroid fb group that is worth joining to get lots of opinions from others in the same situation.

I had a full hysterectomy at 45 for Fibroids, Adenomyosis and Endometriosis, like pp not detected until surgery and again, best thing I ever did.

My periods were so bad I couldn’t function, couldn’t leave the house on heavy days and was permanently anaemic.

I kept my ovaries and now at 51 have no idea if they are still functioning or not. If I am through the menopause it was gentle and had very few symptoms. Hopefully the worst isn’t to come!

I was 50 and had kept my ovaries. It was like my life had been returned to me. Menopause came and went without me noticing. My only regret is I didn’t do it sooner.

I had a sub total hysterectomy aged 50 for a fibroid the size of a 7 month foetus. Ovaries were removed and I went straight onto HRT. It was life changing for me. I’d had a UFE which was unsuccessful and was supposed to have a hysterectomy earlier but COVID hit and I was stuck with it continuing to grow for another two years. It became quite difficult to get a deep breath and sit comfortably behind the wheel of a car towards the end.

I had adenomyosis, fibroids. Heavy periods. Anemia (required regular iron infusions).

I regret the hysterectomy. If I had my time again,I would not have had the operation.

Total abdominal hysterectomy (kept ovaries) over a year ago at 48 for large fibroid (and endo). Was on low dose hrt for peri before op - have stayed on same dose since. One of the best things I ever did - haven't felt this great in a long time.

See I have two large fibroids and had equally awful periods so had an ablation to stop the heavy bleeding
Gyne said as I'm near menopause he'd rather not do a hysterectomy as they shrink away

Next week will be one year since my hysterectomy. It's wonderful. I have my life back. I have a sex drive, I can leave the house without pads, I don't feel ill all the time. Was absolutely miserable before.

Why do you regret it may I ask?

I had Uterine Arterial Embolism (UAE) in Oxford with my second lot of fibroids when I was around 30. I had a myomectomy when I was around 26 and the bggrs grew back. Not had any problems with fibroids since.