Fibroid Tumors and Hysterectomy

my sister-in-law has been trying to have a baby for years now. she’s had so many tests done, they couldn’t find anything wrong she just had some surgery done where they go through your stomach with a scope. when she went back for the results he told her she had fribroid tumors on the uterus!
and told her she needed a hysterectomy! she is only 33 years old and has no children and has been trying so long. now this! she was so upset she doesn’t want to go back to the doctor! i just want to know if she really needs the hysterectomy or is there another way to treat the diagnosis?
cause i thought they would try to shrink it and monitor it first before doing a hysterectomy!please help!!!!!

Dear Shell-
Many women are able to get pregnant and have children with fibroid tumors…however depending on the location of the tumor(s) it may be blocking the opening from her fallopian tubes to her uterus.This would produce infertility.
In any case..fibroids do not necessitate a hysterectomy. This is a disease that should be surgically treated..but we recommend removing the tumors not the uterus.
I would recommend a second opinion.
Good Luck

i wish i saw ur site before my surgery.on july 25 i had a abdominal hysterectomy and i so regret it!!!they cut my bladder and now am having lots of problems with that.please women,research research research!!!!!!!!!!!!i am 33 yrs old with no children.dont make the same mistake i did.,,,,,,,,kelly

I am in my mid-50s, postmenopausal and have taken no hormone supplements. I had an ultrasound that revealed multiple cysts and fibroid tumors. The five largest tumors ranged in size from 29.5 centimeters to 19 centimeters and there were dozens more smaller than this. I also have multiple cysts including cysts on both ovaries and a thickening of the uterine wall. I am very bloated, look pregnant, have bad lower back pain and severe pressure on the bladder with frequent urination. I had a blood test, but have not yet gotten the results. My aunts on my father’s side have had uterine cancer and ovarian cancer. My doctor recommends a total abdominal hysterectomy. I’ve read of a laproscopic supracervical hysterectomy that doesn’t cause as much pain and recovery time and doesn’t remove the cervix. Is this possible for me? I’m concerned about removal of the cervix because of future problems. Thank you for any help you can provide.

Dear Sue-
If you have tumors and cysts this large..you need to have them removed asap, especially if there are documented changes occuring and you are NOT on any hormone replacement. Most gynecological tumors and cysts will shrink once the estrogen supply decreases.
With a family history of ovarian cancer you need to be very careful….many gyns will immediately recommend removing all organs…this must eventually be a personal choice of yours.
You would not be candidate for a laparoscopic hyst..your tumors are far too large..if you are quoting the numbers correctly. However, the possibility of saving your cervix is viable and should be discussed with your surgeon.
Good Luck.

Hello,
I’m 48 years old and was just informed that I have multiple fibroid tumors. My doctor told me to have a hysterectomy because of my age, since I would not be having any more children. I am trying to get a second opinion but it takes so long to get appointments. I have spoken to other people who have gone through the hysterectomy and most, who are in their fifties or sixties, tell me to do it. One friend, who is 47 and had the surgery 5 years ago, told me to see if there are other alternatives and go for it. She is without pain and bleeding but other issues are present, sex for one, she told me that sex is not the same because of dryness and also she went through
mental anguish. I am divorced and I’m actively dating, not permiscuous, but very much concerned with this. I never had any problems with sex in my marriage and I don’t want any problems to start now because of this. Can you tell me what to expect if I do go through with this surgery? Did any other patients have issues like this? Are there any other issues that I should be aware of? My conscious mind knows that I will not have any more children but I guess I always wanted more and feel that I’m not done for some reason, crazy I know, and therefore, I’m quite bothered by the fact. The following are the results of my ultrasounds: My uterus is 14.7×8.4×10.2cm. The myometrial masses were seen by ultrasound (transabdominal & transvaginal pelvic), the largest tumor is located posteriorly in the lower uterine body and measures 7.1×4.8×6.0cm, the second anterior uterine fibroid and is in the lower uterine and and measures 4.9×4.2×5.5cm. The third posterior fundal fibroid measures 6.6×5.1×4.9cm. The endometrial stripe is not visualized but is not grossly thickened and measures 6mm in double layer thickness. No gross focal endometrial thickening or fluid is seen. Both ovaries are seen transabdominally but not visualized transvaginally, the left measures 3.4×2.4×3.1cm and the right measures 2.8×1.7×2.7cm. A 16mm follicle in the left ovary. I stumbled upon your website and found it very helpful. Please help me to cope with this issue. What is life like after this type of surgery? I don’t want to take HRT’s and I don’t want to have a boreing sex life.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read this, I will look forward to your response.
Michelle

Dear Michelle-
Your friends symptoms are very common for many women after hysterectomy…this is why we strongly recommend women attempt to save their uterus if at all possible.
Many women can have a hysterectomy and experience very few side effects however there is no way to know on what side of the fence you may fall. We get calls to this practice weekly from women who have had their uterus removed and are experiencing great difficulty dealing with the after effects…they have called asking us for help. Sadly, there is nothing that can be done once the uterus is removed. This is why we suggest multiple surgical opinions before performing an irreversible procedure like hysterectomy.
Commonly reported post hysterectomy symptoms are:
depression
libido changes
sexual response changes
hormone imbalance
early onset of osteoporosis and heart disease
bowel and bladder prolapse

Our FAS program is an option for women who want to keep their uterus..we have never had to remove a uterus regardless of size, location or number of tumors.
Making this decision will effect the rest of your life…make sure you have all the information to do so.