New with questions regarding Options

Hello everyone,
I am knew here and have just been diagnosed with 2 small fibroid tumors in the uterus and I also have a severly damaged tube. Question is gyn suggest taking out uter and tube. Does this really need to happen or can I just have the tube and fibroids removed.
I have heard that if the uter is removed then your sex life will suck.
Also how long for rehab on this?
The reason I am even consid this is because my periods are very painful to the point of missing work because of the pain.

TIA for all of your info that you can provide
Carole

Hi Carole,

If I was in this situation, I would try the Mirena Coil IUD and leave the tube alone unless there was a particular reason that the tube had to be removed. Then follow up w/TVS.

The Mirena IUD is fairly new in the USA(2001) and contains progestins only. The progestin is in lower amounts than that of bcps and therefore dont tend to cause as much side effects as people tend to hear about with progestins (though I didnt have them) and it's effects are more direct considering it's location. It usually decreases the monthly flow and a good number of women dont even get a period with it. It is good for five years. I have one. A number of women report having less pain after getting the Mirena, but I'm not sure under which conditions (I remember one woman w/endometriosis made a strong statement about this), and I'm not sure why you are getting pain.

http://www.fhi.org/en/AboutFHI/News+...rinecontra.htm
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1534-5874/2/417
http://www.womens-health.co.uk/mirena.htm


Though it's primary use is as a form of birth control, it is used in cases of endometrial hyperplasia (sometimes even in low stage cancer), fibroids (if there isnt too much distortion), cases of excessive bleeding where the cause has been elusive, endometriosis, and adenomyosis.
Mine is doing just fine now (I have it to prevent recurrence of hyperplasia) but I will admit that the placement is not fun, and it seems that good placement is somewhat a matter of luck (having had 2 placed in the past) or ongoing cramping may occur. Mine has been so comfortable that I've had moments of doubt that it was there.

Pat

Hi Carole,

It sounds like your periods are causing you a lot of pain - does your doc think the pain is due to the damaged tube and/or fibroids? Is that why he/she has recommended surgery?

I don't know if you are a good candidate for the Mirena IUD or not as Pat has suggested, only a physician can say for certain. As for whether or not your uterus really needs to be removed - often there are other options for treating fibroids, including removing just the fibroids. You might be a candidate for laparoscopic surgery to remove just the tube and the fibroids (myomectomy + tube removal). This would be much less invasive than having a hyst.

I'd suggest you get at least one other opinion from another gyn before making a final decision. Even if the second gyn also concurs that you need surgery, at least you will have investigated other possibilities.

Please keep us posted on what you find out and what you decide about treatment. We'll do our best to provide support, whatever you decide.

Beth