Confused about keeping cervix

Hi Everyone,

Just wanted to thank everyone again for all the input. It feels great to talk to someone who's been there. I had my pre op appointment yesterday and I've made a decision to take the cervix out. I will also have both ovaries removed. My endometriosis is pretty bad. The Dr will leave me off the HRT's for 6 months. I sure hope I can handle it!! She said this should help with "drying off" all the endo. I can't wait to be pain free! As far as the cervix I was worried about the big "O". My Dr. doesn't seem to think that will be a problem for me. I was raised very conservately and just recently discovered the "O" and oh how I hate to lose it! I have a wonderful husband who's been very supportive and just want's me to feel better. I've been slightly depressed due to fact that my son will be an only child, but at least his mom will be a better mom since I won't be in pain all the time. I'm looking forward to spending some good quality time with him this summer. Oh yes my Dr said she'll put me on progesterine after surgery she said this will help with the hot flashes. I sure hope so. I also get severe migraines during my monthly visits and I've read here as a bonus those may be gone as well. Thanks again to all who have responded. My surgery is scheduled for June 06. Good luck to all of us here

Hi ladies I wanted to address a few points that had been made in this thread... first, technically it is possible to keep the cervix in a vaginal hysterectomy, but there are only a handful of DRs doing that procedure worldwide at this point in time, most of them being, for some reason, in the far east. I have not heard of any of our members having this procedure, though I believe there is a DR in the New York area who is trained to do it.

Also, while it's true that if you keep your cervix but don't keep your ovaries, you wouldn't have "mini periods" as such, we have had some women here who have kept their cervix, had their ovaries removed and gone on HRT, and ended up with bleeding - not cyclical, as in mini periods, but pretty much continuous spotting.

Also, if you had endo, and it happens to extend into the cervix, then yes, you can have bleeding with no uterus (just the cervix), no ovaries and no HRT. This is because endo can produce its own hormones, which is what regulate the bleeding.

(((tx1970))) I'm glad to hear your appointment went so well and you got answers to your questions - that's the way it's supposed to be Given that you have severe endo, it does sound like keeping your cervix is not really a good option for you.

Please try not to worry now about whether your "O's" will be good, or you'll have problems with pelvic support. Most everyone finds that their "O's" are at least a little different at first - not bad, just different. I am three years post op now. The first year, I felt they were shallower and less intense; however, as time has gone on and my hormones have become more balanced, they've gotten to be pretty much as good as ever, and, for some reason, easier to attain. I had pelvic support issues before the surgery (had my hyst for prolapse), and of course had the surgery vaginally with cervix removed, but have had absolutely no issues with pelvic support since then.

I'm glad your DR will be giving you progesterone after your surgery to help get rid of any remaining endo implants, since it is virtually impossible to tell whether there is any endo left behind, and it only takes a tiny bit to re-grow and cause problems again. However, if your ovaries are removed, the chances that progesterone alone will take care of the hot flashes are pretty slim. In addition, you will need to do something to protect your bones without estrogen... you might ask your DR about Evista, Fosamax or Actonel to help with that.

Good luck with your surgery!
s,
-Linda

Thanks Surferbabe!


My DH also has me taking calcium pills. Isn't he great! My mom has oteopososis so I'll definetly talk to my DR about taking something to protect my bones. As for the big "O" well I guess I'm just going to have to find it again once it's all over. I'm trying to remain positive about all this. Looking forward to a "new" me!