Cervix and Mini-Periods

Hi, Everyone,

This is the absolute best sight for information about hysterectomies. I got onto one sight that had me scared to death because everyone was SOOOO negative.

Anyway, I'm scheduled for an abdominal hysterectomy on August 1 because of rapidly enlarging fibroids, excess bleeding, etc., etc. I had just about decided to keep my ovaries and my cervix, but after reading many of the posts here I have a question I'm hoping someone can help with: What are the "mini-periods" that can occur if I keep my cervix? How "mini" is "mini"? Will they occur unexpectedly, like spotting or break-through bleeding? Or will they be more predictable? I saw one post where they involved more bleeding than prior to the hysterectomy, but I'm hoping that's the exception rather than the rule.

Any and all comments are more than welcome.
Still_Deciding

I have decided to keep my ovaries and cervix. Go to the search button on the top of the page and put in the search engine "keeping ovaries" "leaving cervix". You will be taken to hundreds of different posts on the topics.

Many lovely princesses helped with my understanding the pros and cons on both decisions.

Best of luck, you are in the right place here.

LSH 7/19

keeping cervix and ovaries

If the cervix is healthly, then this is a personal choice that you need to make with the advise of your surgeon.

I kept mine, and I am one of the few that have mini periods. Mine have been a "no big deal". Very minor spotting that is over within 24 hours. I had one yesterday, barely needed a panty liner.

I kept my cervix and ovaries, and so far have not had any mini-periods.

This is what my doc explained to me:

There is some uterine lining that extends into the cervix, so he cuts a small piece of the cervix out - where it connects to the uterus - this is to remove any uterine lining that may extend into the cervix.

It's been 9 weeks for me, so far, so good!!

Dorothy

Yoohooo girls

My TAH is (I know, I know, I keep obsessing about the date..) July 30 - we're taking the cervix, and trying to leave one ovary.

The main reasons for taking the cervix, are my family history of cervical cancer (mother and her two sisters all had cervical cancer) and my insistance that it be removed because I just don't want to deal with mini periods, etc. My surgeon agreed it was the best way to go.

It's a decision only you can make - good luck whichever way you decide to go



Tess

When there are good sound reasons to take the organs such as the cervix and ovaries, it just makes the decision so much easier....I was fighting within myself about taking out the cervix but after a biopsy came back with 'atypical' cells, my doc and I decided to take it. Now comes the question of the ovaries.....
I've never heard of mini-periods, but after spending the last 18 months bleeding and wearing pads, if I'm going to have the surgery, I want to be assured that the bleeding is not going to start again. It's a quality of life issue I think.
Good luck to you and please keep in touch!
JoAnn

I am a lil over 5 months post SAH/BSO ~

I had talked with the doctor making it VERY clear that I wanted it ALL gone when I woke up. However, once I was awake and spoke to the doctor I found that due to adhesions from previous surgeries (removal of a cyst, tubal and removal of gallbladder) that my cervix was badly adhesed to my bladder ~ so of course it had to stay. I have not had any bleeding, spotting etc at all since surgery>

Discuss your options with your doctor and continue to search here for information that you need - this is a GREAT place and I we are glad you are here.