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SALT LAKE CITY — As women, we sometimes have a problem getting rid of our female organs — even when we know they are no longer good or are causing us more problems than they are worth. So when do you really need to be concerned about having a hysterectomy?
Reasons for a hysterectomy
You may consider a hysterectomy once you hit menopause. Every woman is different, and just because menopause is supposed to happen in your late 40s and early 50s does not mean that it will. Some women will have early signs of menopause in their late 20s and early 30s and not recognize what they are experiencing.
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Signs of menopause, early or late, include hot flashes, constant mood swings — not just when your period is going to happen — anxiety, restlessness or insomnia and irregular periods. Some women have periods that have become more painful, more bleeding and more difficult to deal with. These are all signs of changing into some kind of menopause phase.
You may also consider a hysterectomy if you are having a lot of bleeding. You need to be concerned about heavy bleeding because it causes low iron, low blood count and extreme tiredness, which will not go away on its own. You will need to seek medical help.
What kind of hysterectomy?
Once you've decided to have a hysterectomy, the question becomes whether to have your ovaries removed along with your uterus. I feel this is a personal choice, but make sure you understand this: There currently is no test to detect ovarian cancer. By the time doctors find the cancer and diagnose it, it is usually too late to do much to treat it. If you have a history of ovarian cancer in your family, seriously consider having them removed.
If you do not have a family history of cancer and choose to keep one or both of your ovaries, be aware that no matter what kind of hysterectomy you have, you will go into some type of menopause.
Sometimes the decision has been made and your doctor will not agree with it, but you should find a doctor who can help you. That may mean changing doctors. It is not reasonable to keep something in your body that is causing more problems than good.
After a hysterectomy
Your main decision after a hysterectomy will be whether to take hormones, due to the risks they pose. It is a good thing to have hormones, if needed, at the lowest dose you can tolerate. They help reduce bone lose, heart disease, hot flashes and mood swings. Still, they may cause some cancers.
Hormone therapy is something you need to research and understand before beginning. If you keep your ovaries, this reduces the need to take hormone replacement.
Having a hysterectomy can be a very hard decision to make, and it does not need to be made more complicated by others' opinions. Understand your body and your needs.
Suzanne Carlile, "Nurse Suzy," has been a nurse since 1982. Her main focus is critical care and nursing education. She holds a master's degree in nursing, is a Certified Emergency Nurse, and a member of NNSDO Intermountain West Chapter.
