Hysterectomy – the Experts Speak Out
It’s hard to believe that hysterectomy was popularized in the United States over a century ago. The surgical removal of the female hormone responsive reproductive sex organs is a primitive practice, yet there were an average of 622,000 hysterectomies((removal of the uterus) performed a year for the last decade. In 2005 76% of the women hysterectomized had their ovaries removed. The ovaries are the female gonads, and removal of the ovaries is castration. Doctors tell women sex will be the same, or better than ever. Women say their sex lives are over, they’re “dead in bed”.
As women who have had their sex organs discover after the surgery, this is about much more than sex. Among the most commonly report effects of hysterectomy are a loss of vitality, loss of sexuality, loss of sensuality, loss of short term memory, loss of creativity and change in personality.
This is a place for all hysterectomized and castrated women to tell the truth about their experiences and observations.
Family and friends are welcome to post, too.
Labels: castration, experts, Female Anatomy, hysterectomy, oophorectomy, ovaries, sex, sex after hysterectomy, support
Lori,
You never need a hysterectomy for fibroids unless you have the wrong doctor.
The size of fibroids is not a reason to undergo a hysterectomy. If the gynecologist is concerned about your kidney function is it because there are times you are unable to start the stream of urine? Or did you have an ultrasound that showed your ureters are dilated? If so, you should have an Intravenous Pyleogram (IVP). It will show if there is any problem with your kidneys. It is rare that a fibroid causes a problem with kidney function.
To learn more about fibroids, such as when they grow and how large the average size is, and whether symptoms are indicative of a medical problem, go to http://www.hersfoundation.org and scroll down to the link 'Fibroids'.
I'm 49 , have 1 child & my fibroid is 9cmx10cm. My doctor suggested hysterectomy without removing the ovaries. I do not have any of the symptoms, maybe just slightly more frequent to the loo, but her concern is the size of the fibroid might affect my kidney function.
I wonder if a myomectomy, leaving the uterus intact, will be a better choice but the recurrence rate is quite high. In addition, is mine too big for myometomy?
The side effects also sound scary.
Lisa, I'm sorry you are experiencing the typical problems after your hysterectomy.
Your friend, who has not had a hysterectomy, may be experiencing many similar problems, but fortunately she does not have the structural problems of loss of support to her bladder or bowel, the loss of uterine orgasm, a shortened vagina or 3X greater risk of heart disease. She has intact ovaries that will function all of her life, unlike women whose ovaries were removed, who have a sudden loss of hormones.
While some of her symptoms may be similar, removal of the uterus and/or ovaries is not menopause. The ovaries are the female gonads, and removal of the ovaries is castration.
Let the buyer beware, this is nothing like menopause.
I had a hysterectomy and have experienced some of the side effects posted, but i would also like to add that my best friend has all her parts and is experiencing worse side effects then i am going through, Its Menopause, regardless you go through it natural or sooner by hysterectomy your gonna experience the symptoms. Of course I think women should hang on to their parts if they don't really have to have one, why deal with menopause sooner then you have too, that just sucks, i would also like to add that you don't hear of these complaints in women who were already menopausal and had a hysterectomy, because the surgery did not change a thing for them. I want to add it is not a death sentence if you need one, i am on bio hormone replacement and feel great, am i what i was as a young women hormonally, No, i am not, but who is in their 40's? If you look up Menopause, just about everything listed here is listed there. Sadly, at one point or another we are gonna go through it. It just sucks to be a women.
I WILL BE 69 NEXT MONTH. i HAD A HYSTERECTOMY 12/03/2009. i HAVE A
HEALTHY SEX LIFE AS DO TWO OF MY
FEMALE FRIENDS, ONE WHO IS 72 AND ONE WHO IS 64. I HAVE NO ONE TO
RELATE TO WITH ANY OF THESE HORRIBLE SYMPTOMS. I FORGOT, MY SISTER HAD A HYSTERECTOMY AT THE AGE OF THIRTY AND WENT ON TO REMARRY AND HAS BEEN MARRIED 32 YEARS TO HER SOUL MATE. MY 72 YEAR OLD FRIEND HAS BEEN WITH HER BOYFRIEND TWO AND A HALF YEARS AND HE IS 61. HE TELLS US SHE IS A KEEPER. I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN TO KNOW THE POSITIVES SO THEY DON'T ASSUME TH WORST WILL HAPPEN.
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Jane,
It is curious that someone who was hysterectomized over a year ago and has no problems would still be looking for information about pre and post hysterectomy symptoms and problems.
One would think that a hysterectomized woman who felt great would be enjoying sex, and enjoying family, friends, a social life and work.
You seem to have a need to encourage not only with your words, but by shouting your comments in all caps, other women to undergo a surgery that is, by definition, damaging.
Do you believe that a man whose male organs were amputated would be the same in any way after his penis and testicles were removed? And if a man whose sex organs were removed said that he felt great, his sex life was the same or better, and he experienced no adverse effects, would other men find it credible?
I think your comment is important, it provides an opportunity to engage in discussion about a very important question: Why do some women try to talk other women into being hysterectomized and castrated? I hope you will continue to participate in this discussion. I, and other women, are sincere in wanting to understand your position.
I am 32. I am still recovering from a total hysterectomy. In hindsight–I wish I had been more informed. One day my doctor said,”We’re going to have to remove the womb,” and a few weeks later I came by to sign a consent form and do tests at the hospital. I was never sat down and educated. I am sorry I didn’t demand it. My question is this, what ARE good reasons to have a hysterectomy? I had Carcinoma in-situ on my cervix as a cause of HPV. Was that cause enough? I’m terrified of the consequences to be.
Due to a ‘Blog glitch’ all comments posted before 12/6/07 can be accessed by scrolling down to the very bottom of this page. Almost all of the previously posted comments are there. Unfortunately there are a few comments that were wiped out by the glitch. If you see that your previous post was wiped out PLEASE, POST IT AGAIN. Every single comment posted is important, we don’t want to lose any of them.
Keep posting! Your comments tell the truth about the effects of hysterectomy and castration. This is the reality of what hysterectomized women are experience when their female organs are removed, and it is what they are not being told by doctors. Thanks for your understanding about the glitch. Unfortunately it couldn’t be helped but the problem is fixed and we should not encounter this difficulty again.