Any female members recently had a hysterectomy?

Any female members that have recently had a hysterectomy? I’ll be going in for a complete hysterectomy with BSO in February and just looking to connect and maybe get some recovery tips

I am following this. Particularly interested in the responses of younger gals. Specifically, how long have you worked to convince a doctor to operate prior to surgery?

I am following this. Particularly interested in the responses of younger gals. Specifically, how long have you worked to convince a doctor to operate prior to surgery?

@Mrssnipgirl I’m a little confused at this? What would you need to convince a doctor of?

I have a very good friend who’s scheduled for a hysterectomy with her ovaries also being removed. She’s not even 40 and is really worried about it … what will it be like, how well does the HRT work, etc.

As this is in the “Medical BUT NOT Medfet” board I’m hoping some women who have experienced it might be able to share their thoughts and experiences?

-TYD

Don’t want to speak on the behalf of @Mrssnipgirl, but @TrustYourDoctor, I suspect she is making a comment about how women’s reproductive health is treated by society. Contraception “debates” on whether women should be allowed to make their own minds up regarding their own sexual health.

I personally have friends who have requested a hysterectomy as a single woman in their 20’s and been told by the doctor “but what about your future husband? What if they want kids?”, as if their reproductive rights are owned by some man they’ve never met, and what he might want…

To kind-of answer your question @interestedmed, a hysterectomy was one of my options when I was choosing surgery back in 2022 to treat ovarian cancer. I had decided to remove the affected ovary, but I was asked to consider whether I would like a hysterectomy at the same time as I was (supposedly - time has proven otherwise) told I’d never have kids again, so do I want to consider removing it completely.

My recovery tip would be: don’t push yourself to recover. Take your time, and remember that things may feel different and that is ok. Because you can’t really see anything that is healing, you can easily think it’s happening faster than it is (unlike a broken arm that you can clearly see while it heals). Even when you feel 100%, even if your doctor says you’re 100%, don’t be too hard on yourself if you can’t do your workout at the gym yet, or go for a walk as far as you usually would, or you need to pee more, or whatever. Just be kind to yourself.

You are right @NurseSammy I have been told that I will change my mind when I am older or my boyfriends might want kids and then it will be impossible. I know I don’t want them. Take it out please.

@NurseSammy , @Mrssnipgirl My mother told me years ago there was a time when your husband actually had to approve a hysterectomy or other female surgery. It was not all that long ago.

@Mrssnipgirl , Here’s an international list from Reddit of medical providers who offer a variety of sterilization procedures by location, including some providers in New Zealand. Just because you’re younger doesn’t mean you don’t know your own body and mind. Hope this helps. 🌹

https://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/wiki/doctorsinternational/?seeker-session=true

A couple weeks after my 40th birthday, I had a total hysterectomy. I had severe PCOS, endometriosis, had been through multiple rounds of laparoscopy, including ovarian diathermy and had an ovary removed in March 2010. I also had a csection. In 2017, I had enough…I was bleeding constantly and had a super thick endometrial lining. GYN wanted to do ablation. I said no thank you when I learned the success rate was 30% and I would be required to get an IUD. I pushed for a total hysterectomy. GYN finally conceded.

Ended up having a GYN that specialized in gyno oncology and complicated hysterectomies do the procedure. Before surgery, he made sure I understood that I was high risk for possibly ending up with a traditional large incision hysterectomy. By the grace of God and with the help of 3 residents, he was able to complete the surgery using DaVinci robotics system.

Because I didn’t have cancer, I was eligible for HRT. I chose bio identical hormone pellets. They are inserted through a small incision every four months. My hormone levels stay consistent, no hot flashes or other major menopause symptoms.

I have zero regrets. Best decision I ever made. The entire 28 years I had my uterus and ovaries, I had constant irregular cycles, heavy bleeding, ovarian cysts that would randomly rupture, endometriosis pain. It was so freeing to no longer have every decision in my life revolve around whether or not I would be end up in severe pain or randomly start bleeding.

You are right @NurseSammy I have been told that I will change my mind when I am older or my boyfriends might want kids and then it will be impossible. I know I don’t want them. Take it out please.

@Mrssnipgirl Why not just get your tubes tied? A little less invasive and drastic as a hysterectomy.

So I'm a man, and definitely don't want to speak out of turn, but here are my experiences with it.

@Mrssnipgirl and @Interestedmed best of luck with your procedures. So my partner just had one last summer, pro-actively not for birth control, as her tubes were tied for the last 17 years. She is athletic, and recovered very quickly, probably back to normal activity withing a couple of weeks. She was on HRT for the last 3 years, as she was already menopausal (very early) so that required some modification but went pretty smoothly.

Post-procedure sex, took us a while, but is still great, she still gets wet, has lots of sensation. She is a little "shallower", but I am above average to start, and she still enjoys, and honestly makes me feel even bigger.

HRT has been major as she ages, and is amazing and a fountain of youth. It is not one size fits all, and you have to be comfortable experimenting with it until you find what works for you.

All my best ladies!