What exactly are your periods like - can I avoid a hysterectomy?

A vaginal hysterectomy was recommended to me by my GYN because of a fallen uterus. This is tugging on my right ovary and causing pain. My periods are also painful and heavy for two days, with many clots. In fact, I had to leave church Sunday morning because I could feel the clots starting. When this happens, the only place to be is the bathroom. Is this reason enough for a hysterectomy, or are there alternatives? He also recommended Danazol for the periods, which I don't find a good alternative. The only thing to help the pain is a hyster., apparently.

This link http://pages.prodigy.com/prolapse.html/ offers lottsa info on prolapse, living with it, or options to fix it. Some women with prolapse are not candidates for surgery, or don't want surgery. Some don't want to give up their ability to birth a baby. Any option YOU choose to address your symptoms is a valid one. Only you have to live with the end results, good or bad.

The options to treat prolapse are: 1) do nothing (gravity & time will make it worse), 2) wear a pessary, 3) have abdominal surgery to hitch it all back up, 4) removal of the uterus/cervix.

If you choose to have a hyst, the prolapse makes you an excellent candidate for the less-invasive vaginal procedure (TVH). If your ovaries are healthy, you should consider keeping them.

This is major surgery, so you owe it to yourself to get 2 or 3 medical opinions. Get smart about your symptoms & your options, and make the best choice for YOU.

Sending cyberhugs

Just to clarify a little - I had a pessary in after my second child (I have three kids), and the GYN said this isn't a good option now. I am 38 and am not having any more children (hubby had a vasectomy eight years ago). The doctor said that if I do indeed have a hyster. I will have a vaginal one, and keep both ovaries. I have had two ultrasounds, a sono-hysterogram, and a laparoscopy, which didn't help the periods at all, but I guess helped diagnose things. Quite frankly, I am scared to have surgery, and the recovery doesn't sound like much fun either!!

Dear Sandy,

85% of hysterectomies are done for quality of life reasons, not to SAVE a life.

Only YOU (with your doc's input) can make this decision.

Sending cyberhugs