Been offered a hysterectomy…

[makemineadecaf]

Wwyd?

I’ll be 37 in a couple of weeks, three kids, husband has had a vasectomy. Horrendous periods since having third child three years ago. I can’t take oestrogen based contraceptives and mirena was a car crash. I have adenomyosis.

I paid privately to see a gynae consultant and he said hed happily perform a hysterectomy (keyhole) but preserve the ovaries despite my age. Before people say “course, he wants the cash”, I would be referred to him on the nhs. I just wanted an initial consultation to see what my options are:

Try (again) the mini pill. Last time I just bled continuously.
Try dienogest. Can only be prescribed by consultants. Side effects sound grim.
Hysterectomy

wwyd?

Thank you for all the replies and great to hear no one regrets it!

for those of you who had keyhole, how was your recovery? He said one night in hospital but I didn’t really take the rest in. How long off work etc?

I’m having one very shortly in my early 30s, removing everything apart from one ovary for severe endo and adeno. Can’t wait!

Good luck!! Do feedback how you got on

I had a hysterectomy at 45 fast tracked nhs due to fibroids
It was the happiest day of my life, including my wedding and birth of my 3 kids.
I kept my ovaries. Was told that they would continue to work for a max of 5 years
Went onto hrt at 50.

Adenomyosis will only get worse, have the op.

By the time any one would take me seriously mine was Stage 4 and Stage 4 endometriosis. The pain was worse than labour as it was constant.

So freeing I've got my life back. Life's too short to suffer unnecessarily.

Hysterectomy definitely. Had mine 13 years ago due to fibroids. Kept one ovary which lasted about a year.

No regrets whatsoever, best thing I’ve done

I had one at 45 for endometriosis and adenomyosis. Kept ovaries and cervix.

So glad I did it. It gave me my life and health back! No more chronic pain or horrendous bleeding :) The recovery was fine.

Have it. 61, so obviously different circumstances, but I would if I could afford it. The threat of several cancers gone in one process with full recovery within a couple of months. In fact, I think there’s an argument for offering to every woman post-menopause as a preventative measure. Of course, there aren’t the funds.

Definitely go for the hysterectomy. I have endometriosis and it’s the best thing I ever did. Life changing and so much better health wise.

Go for it OP.

As for the menopause, for me that has been fantastic, no periods, no other symptoms.

I believe even with ovaries intact oestrogen will still plummet and at 37 you should still take HRT until normal meno age then reassess. Surgical induced menopause at such a young age has well documented risks re bone health etc.
As you would not have a uterus you'd only need oestrogen not progesterone and it's the progesterone part of it that many struggle with.

Interesting. Though as someone who cannot take oestrogen in contraceptives due to aura migraines, god knows how I’d cope in menopause if I can’t take oestrogen then either.

I'm no expert but I think the dose is completely different and if taken transdermally may not have the the same effect?

Definitely something to discuss with your consultant as lack of oestrogen at 37 will cause long term health risks.

I had a hysterectomy done via my vagina. Kept one ovary, should have been 2 but one was adhered (due to scarring etc) to my womb so it came out with the womb. Anyway, I was 42, now 47 almost 48, still no signs of menopause, but I do use oestrogen pessaries for vaginally atrophy (which has been fantastic).
It was the best thing I ever did. I also had mine done privately. My recovery, because it was done vaginally, was fantastic, smooth sailing.
It means I will also not be potentially affected by prolapse due to menopause, I no longer have to have smears, sex without fear of pregnancy is liberating and just not pouring with blood and clots 10 days out of every 26 has been life changing also.
It is not a decision I have ever regretted.
My consultant did say I may go into early menopause, but no signs so far.

I had an endometrial ablation six years ago because of horrendous periods.it was called Novasure.
It was for me life changing and my gyne said he recommends trying this before hysterectomy.
my periods are so very light I barely notice them .

I’m older than you and it took longer to diagnose (8 years). I’ve got so used to it that I’ve continued muddling through. Everyone is different though. Hysterectomy also has side effects. It’s better now than it was a few years ago and I’m regular as clockwork, so I know precisely which days might be tricky.

I had a total hysterectomy, tubes and ovaries removed. It was laparoscopic assisted, which means they made the cuts laparoscopically so I only had three small incisions on my abdomen, but removed everything by taking the cervix out. I asked my surgeon why, and he explained removing everything laparoscopically means cutting it up into small pieces, which uses different tools and they didn't do it. He did also say he preferred not to in case there was any undetected cancer, and cutting up the uterus had spread the cells around. So you can ask the surgeon about it. I'm not missing my cervix and am quite delighted not to need smear tests. If you are worried about premature menopause you might also want to ask if you definitely couldn't have 'add-back' oestrogen therapy to replace your natural oestrogen. It's a lower dose than contraception, usually via a patch or gel. So the risks and side effects are different.

Forgot to say, good luck, whatever you decide to do.

I had mine at 39, they took ovaries too as they had cysts on, I had endo and adeno too but did not find this out until the histology afterwards. I could not have vaginal hysterectomy as my uterus was too big. I slapped an oestrogen patch on straightaway and have been on it ever since, now 55

No more pain, bleeding or PMT, its been good

I have a long scar along bikini line but its hardly noticeable now

No none