Why you should NOT have a Hysterectomy

In the past, Hysterectomy was performed on women without their knowledge or consent, and who only became aware of this devastating turn of events when they woke up from the anaesthetic to find their lives altered forever. These days things have changed somewhat, and women have informed consent available to them, but exactly how informed is that consent? Hysterectomy is so widely used that it is often unnecessary, and often takes precedence over much better and less invasive treatments, but it's quick, it's cost effective, and it's easy. How many women are offered this treatment unnecessarily, when it is not indicated, just because it's the easier option? It is widely accepted that a woman's uterus is deemed no longer useful if a woman's family is completed. However, this does not take into account the vital role your uterus plays in your overall health, and its contribution to your wellbeing and sexual health. In my opinion, the only reasons a woman should have this operation is uterine, ovarian or cervical cancer, severe uterine prolapse that does not respond to uterine suspension techniques, or Adenomyosis. (Having said this, I have severe Adenomyosis and have chosen to have a uterine resection, rather than a hysterectomy and would rather live with painful periods than suffer the devastation of side effects following a hysterectomy).

Hysterectomy is not appropriate for women with Endometriosis because Endometriosis occurs mostly outside of the uterus, in the pelvic cavity, adhering to organs and structures adjacent to the uterus. Removing the uterus does not remove the disease as it is still present in organs and structures and also systemically. Sudden surgically-induced menopause is not the same as naturally occuring menopause, where hormone levels gradually and naturally decline. Sudden cessation of certain hormone production can cause devastating effects. Even if one does not undergo removal of the ovaries, your hormones will still be affected. Symtoms can include fatigue, joint pains, decreased short term memory, loss of libido, hot flashes, hair loss, brain fog, insomnia, feelings of rage, inability to have orgasms, bladder problems and urinary incontinence, thyroid dysfunction, suicidal thoughts, night sweats, depression, increased allergies, decreased resistance, weight gain and many others. It seems a shame to spend your whole adult life trying to balance your hormones to improve your Endometriosis only to make matters worse by having a sudden and irreversible operation.

You may find that synthetic hormones, prescribed to make you feel better, actually make you feel worse, and before you know it, you feel like you are spinning out of control, in a downward spiral of ill-health. Do not opt for the most radical, irreversible choice first. Always try everything else before you make a decision to have a hysterectomy, such as uterine resection, Endometriosis Excision surgery, and natural, bio-identical hormones. Whever you visit a doctor's surgery, there are tons of leaflets and information about hysterectomy, but very few regarding alternatives to it. Hysterectomies are performed at a staggering rate in this country, but you seldom hear about the women left behind after the surgery. Maybe they atrribute their feeling of ill-health to aging or disease process, and maybe they don't realize that the surgery is what has led them to feeling so bad, but once the surgery is performed there is little that can be done to reverse it.

Alternatives are not usually offered, due to expense and lack of skill. Endometriosis requires Excision surgery, for which few doctors are qualified. Likewise, fibroids require Myomectomy but hysterectomy is offered all too easily if the doctor feels he does not have the skill to perform such surgeries. If the first option a doctor offers you is a hysterectomy, then walk out the door. Find a surgeon who is willing to work with you and offer less radical options first.

Imagine this scenario: you are diagnosed with Endo, painful periods and heavy bleeding and your doctor prescribes you a course of Lupron. You take the Lupron for six months, during which time you suffer terrible side effects of bone pain, joint pain, depression and fatigue. At the end of six months the Lupron stops but the side effects continue and the pain of Endo returns. You go back to the doctor who recommends a hysterectomy, so you, forever trusting and desperate for relief, agrees. After the hysterectomy you suffer sudden surgical menopause.....night sweats, fatigue, crying spells, joint pain....on and on and on. You go back to the doctor who pats your hands and tells you you have to live with it, and prescribes you an anti-depressant and some HRT. The anti-depressant itself has a myriad of nasty side effects, and the HRT has a long list of them too, so now you have all that on board as well as all the problems post-op. Then on top of everything you discover you simply don't have the desire to have sex anymore. When you do you are unable to reach orgasm. You're exhausted, frustrated, sick and still in pain. Still want to have a hysterectomy? If you think this scenario is unusual, think again. This is happening to women all over the country, every day. The untold suffering of women having unnecesary hysterectomies is massive and incalculable. But there is an alternative.

Take charge of your health. Don't take the first advice you are given. Research everything to see if it is right for you. Don't take synthetic hormones. Find a surgeon that will work with you and be willing to perform conservative surgery on you first, to see if that helps. Take only natural bio-identical hormones. Exercise as much as you can. Cut out all unnatural junk foods and eat quality nutrition.

Sexuality
It had been believed for a long time that the uterus played no part in sexual response, but thanks to hysterectomy, and its legacy of devastating side effects, it is being widely accepted that it plays a major role in orgasm, and the female hormones in the ability to feel and respond to a partner intimately. The tip of the cervix is studded with nerves that respond to intercourse, and the uterus itself contracts on orgasm, bending the cervix down to "suck up" residual sperm in order to initiate pregnancy. This was observed by an internal camera, placed inside a woman's vagina during sexual intercourse, during a study done by the BBC on human sexual response. When a woman's anatomy and hormone balance are altered, so may her sexual response, and she may find that sex is never the same again. Orgasms are reported to be not as deep or intense, and many women complain that they are unable to feel pleasure or orgasm at all. To a woman in the prime of her life, this can be devastating.

From the book "Hysterectomy : Before and After": by Winifred B. Cutler Ph.D.
"Through various studies it is known that the uterus is involved in sexual response, particularly in orgasm. For many women, the uterus contracts at orgasm. This contraction is often perceived as intensely pleasureable and forms a significant part of their orgasmic response."

Effects on Ovaries and Hormones
The uterus plays an important part in keeping the ovaries healthy. Research has shown that substances from the uterus appear to control hormonal secretions from the ovaries. Within just three days post surgery, temporary and sometimes permanent defecits occur in ovarian hormones. The uterus is responsible for the production of Prostaglandins, that in turn play a key role in maintaining the the ovarian luteal phase. The uterus is the main site for the production of prostacyclin, which protects against heart disease and blood clots. It cannot be synthetically made and so the removal of the uterus will cease its production permanently. It also produces 60 different prostaglandins and enzymes.

Effects on the Nervous System
The uterus interconnects with the nervous system. Hysterectomy has shown to produce some predictable defecits in nervous system functioning. The uterus contributes to the beta endorphin level, which is responsible for feelings of emotional well-being. It also contributes to the release of prostaglandins which affect the nervous system in many ways. The uterus also contains many nerve endings in the uterus itself and in the cervix, which is responsible for the pleasureable feelings during sexual intercourse.