MyTake on Hysterectomy

I am deeply saddened by the fact that I have been diagnosed with a gynecologic condition for which a hysterectomy has been recommended. I'm trying to igore the whole situation and trying to escape reality. But it is almost impossible to ignore the fact that I'm not going to be able to conceive a child.

So, what happens during a hysterectomy?

Hysterectomy is a surgery to remove a woman’s uterus. The whole uterus is usually removed, and the fallopian tubes and ovaries. After a hysterectomy, you no longer have menstrual periods and cannot become pregnant. There are several different types of hysterectomy surgery:

  • Partial, subtotal, or supracervical removes just the upper part of the uterus. The cervix is left in place.
  • Total removes the whole uterus and the cervix.
  • Radical removes the whole uterus, the tissue on both sides of the cervix, and the upper part of the vagina. This is done mostly when there is cancer present.

myTake on Hysterectomy

Why do I need a hysterectomy?

  • Uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths in the wall of the uterus. In some women they cause pain or heavy bleeding.
  • Heavy or unusual vaginal bleeding. Changes in hormone levels, infection, cancer, or fibroids can cause heavy, prolonged bleeding.
  • Uterine prolapse. This is when the uterus slips from its usual place down into the vagina. This is more common in women who had several vaginal births, but it can also happen after menopause or because of obesity. Prolapse can lead to urinary and bowel problems and pelvic pressure.
  • Endometriosis. Endometriosis happens when the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows outside of the uterus on the ovaries where it doesn’t belong. This can cause severe pain and bleeding between periods.
  • Adenomyosis. In this condition the tissue that lines the uterus grows inside the walls of the uterus where it doesn’t belong. The uterine walls thicken and cause severe pain and heavy bleeding.
  • Cancer (or precancer) of the uterus, ovary, cervix, or endometrium (the lining of the uterus). Hysterectomy may be the best option if you have cancer in one of these areas. Other treatment options may include chemotherapy and radiation.

For more information about hysterectomy, contact the following organizations:

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), HHS
Phone Number: 301-427-1364


National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Phone Number: 800-422-6237


Division of Reproductive Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), HHS
Phone Number: 800-323-4636


American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
Phone Number: 202-638-5577


American College of Surgeons (ACS)
Phone Number: 800-621-4111

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Most Helpful Girl

  • What is your condition. An i am sorry this is happening to you. But must you have a hysterectomy, is this condition life or death. And have you gotten 2nd and 3rd opinions from different doctors? My aunt had tons of fibroids , they wanted her to have a hysterectomy but when she went to a different doctor they got her on meds to help her. But I know your estrogen levels won't change as much but your progesterone , can they give you pills or shots for it. Or can your body no longer absorb it without your reproductive organs?

Most Helpful Guy

  • I am deeply sorry for you. It must be devastating. At least you have the small consolation of knowing you will never have to deal with periods again... I hope it will all go well for you.

    • Thanks

    • Could they, by any chance, save a couple of your eggs? You could have them fertilized by a future husband and have them through a surrogate mother

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What Girls & Guys Said

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  • Isn't there a way for you to have your eggs harvested so you could have the child conceived through test tube / surrogate?

    I think that's better than being infertile.

  • This was a great mytake

    • thank you!

  • Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. I recently found out that I probably won't ever have kids myself, after an infection partially destroyed my fallopian tubes.

    It's a hard thing to hear, hard to cope with. Wish you all the best. If you ever wanna talk about it, pm me.

  • Wait why do you need the hysterectomy for?

  • This is the first time I'm hearing of this so thank you for informing. Pretty sad actually.. :(

    • it is sad, you're welcome!

    • Will sexual pleasure also be reduced because of the hysterectomy?

  • I'm sorry for your misfortune if i had a girl who couldn't have sex and or
    couldn't give me child i would still love her it makes no difference , love
    should be stronger than anything

    • Thanks for sharing this with us

  • I wish I could give my ability to have children to someone who needs and wants it.

  • All of my aunts on my moms side had a hysterectomy , my aunts on my dads side , my grandmother , my great grandmother , and now my mother has to have one.

  • You may not be able to carry a child in your body, but you can always harvest eggs and have a child through surrogacy. It's clinical and expensive, but the child will be your own.

  • Ohh i am so sorry. that is very sad...😞

    But would you be able to at least have sex or not?

    • Yes, women can have sex after a hysterectomy, once they have recovered from the surgery. Many women will not lubricate naturally and will need to use an artificial lubricant. Many women with hysterectomies will suffer a loss of libido and a change in their levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. For most women, the psychological consequences are more devastating and it is not unusual for women post-hysterectomy to develop depression. A woman who is facing a hysterectomy needs a strong and supportive male partner.

  • very good take. sorry to hear about your condition.

  • One of my cousins had hysterectomy & she won't be able to become a mother, her husband is also a impotent man.

  • I’m sorry 😐. What is your condition if you don’t mind me asking?

  • I am in that same boat, for me it's fibriods, I have at least 4 large ones (and many smaller ones), and they are in different layers/areas of my uterus. All the treatment options my doctor (s) and I went through will only treat some, but not all, and will not be as effective as I would like... I'm bleeding heavily (going through an ultra tampon, overnight pad, and soaking through clothes within an hour several times for at least 3 - 4 days each period), and each period is lasting a day longer than the last... my last one was 12 days. I have iron deficiency anemia because of them, and I'm tired of feeling lethargic and fatigued all the time. It was decided that hysterectomy would be the most effective. I'm 41 and will not be able to bear children now, but I'm okay with that. I don't need to have a baby, or give birth to one, to be happy or fulfilled. :)

    I am sorry you are going through this, and completely understand needing to pull yourself away from it for a little bit. But every woman I have talked to who has had a hysterectomy has assured me that I will feel 100% better after it's done, and I'm all healed... and I hope that you do too. Good luck. :)

  • I was only 15 years old and in the same situation as you are. I had no choice in the matter it was surgery or my life.

    • Does it hurt or reduce female sexual pleasure in anyway from penetration

    • @Floyd790 I wouldn't know for sure being it happened before I became sexually active.

  • A girl I was dating had cervical cancer and needed it too.