Full or partcial hyster? - Hysterectomy Message Board

pacu · 04-08-2005, 05:20 PM

Hi all
My wife has fiberoids on her uterus and her doctor has given her the options of either having surgery to remove the fiberoids or having a hysterectomy. She is 32 yrs old and we already have 3 children, we are not planing on having anymore. But we know that a full hysterectomy means taking medication for estro. but what about if we just have her uterus removed? would that by a wise choice? what are the side effects?, would she still have to take medication or get a period every month? can the fiberoids come back in another area?
Any advice or help would be greatly appreciated
pacu

ktee_uk · 04-09-2005, 02:22 AM

Hi pacu

As I understand it, if the uterus is removed then the fibroids will not come back.

There are 3 options I think

1) Sub total hysterectomy: This is removal of uterus, leaving ovaries and cervix.
2) Total hysterectomy: Removal of uterus including cervix (the cervix is actually the bottom part of uterus)
3) Total hysterectomy + oopherectomy: Removal of uterus, cervix and ovary/ies

The ovaries are worth saving to avoid surgical menopause which at 32 y/old is important. But ovary failure can sometimes occur after a hyster.
The cervix is debateable and I still have to make my own mind up on that one. There is a risk that you can still have "mini-periods" as there may be some endometrial cells on the cervix if the uterus is not removed far enough down, and she would also still have to have cervical smear tests.

Its a difficult choise isn't it but I think its great that you are involved enough to post questions. My husband would not know what a uterus was unless it was part of a car engine

. Good luck

ktee

Dimage · 04-09-2005, 07:25 AM

I had a full hysterectomy at age 36. I never felt better in my life. Though I wish I had kept the ovaries to keep the estrogen production. It's not good to be on ERT such a long time.. and she will need it being so young. If your wife can keep hers I think she should consider that option.
Take care and good luck.
Di

quincy · 04-10-2005, 12:38 PM

I had a total hysterectomy when I was 39. No children, but total hell periods from endometriosis as well as fibroids. I've never regretted it a day even though I've had to use estrogen (mostly by patch which is a lower dosage).

Now at age 50, I'm starting to lessen the estrogen amount and will eventually go off it I think.

If your wife has no problem with her ovaries, she could consider to keep them. It could be left open that once the doc is in there and her ovaries have endo or cysts..etc that they be removed based on the doc's judgement.

I've never regretted it one day. But, what I would never have is the cervix left. Just something else that would have to be checked for possible cancer. And now in saying that....with ovaries gone, ovarian cancer would be another possible cancer one wouldn't have to worry about (especially since it's rarely caught early).

I'd rather only go through it once, take the meds and get on with life.

She'll be going through menopause if her ovaries are left intact and will eventually have to deal with those issues anyway.

My perspective,
quincy

pacu · 04-12-2005, 04:26 PM

Well thanks for all your responses and advice, as you women know this is not easy on my wife and at times I feel like she doesn't even want to talk about it. We are going to have a second opinion b4 making our final decision. Again thanks.
pacu