Women's Center
Thursday, March 28, 2024

  Your Body
  Alternatives
  Medical Record
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  Before Surgery
  Your Procedure
  Recovery

Hysterectomy

Removal of Uterus, Ovaries and Fallopian tubes


Alternatives

This information is not intended to replace the advice of your doctor. MedSelfEd, Inc. disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.
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Your doctor understands that all medical care benefits from close collaboration between physician and patient -- so be sure to review, with your doctor, all risks and alternatives and make sure you understand the reasons behind the recommendation for this particular procedure.

Now let's talk in detail about the procedure your doctor has recommended. That particular recommendation was based on a number of factors:

  • the state of your health,

  • the severity of your condition,

  • an assessment of alternative treatments or procedures and finally,

  • the risks associated with doing nothing at all.

And remember, the final decision is up to you. No one can force you to undergo a surgical procedure against your will.

In the case of hysterectomy, the alternatives to surgery depend on the nature of your particular medical condition.
If surgery is recommended because you are suffering from heavy menstrual flow and extreme cramping - then choosing not to have surgery may only mean that you may continue to feel discomfort.
But if removal of the uterus with the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes is intended to cure disease or treat abnormal tissue growth,
refusing surgery can have serious, even life-threatening consequences.
In any case, your doctor has recommended this procedure because he or she believes that in this case, surgery is in your best interest. As you already know, hysterectomy means removal of the uterus, and only the uterus.
Many people use the term hysterectomy to refer to removal of the uterus as well as the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes.
Because of the common confusion of the two procedures, it is very important that you discuss with your doctor exactly which parts of your reproductive system will be removed during surgery.
The decision whether or not to remove the ovaries is important, because the ovaries produce important sex hormones.
Removing them may have an impact on your health and even your state of mind in the future. Many people who have had their ovaries removed find that they need to take hormone replacement medication for many years following surgery.
Now I'd like to introduce you to another important member of the medical team -- the nurse.

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