Why shouldn't I just get a hysterectomy? I just want my symptoms to end now!
Hysterectomy is the traditional treatment for relief of fibroid symptoms. 600,000 hysterectomies are performed every year in the United States, and it is estimated that up to half of them are performed for fibroid symptom relief. 37% of all women have a hysterectomy before they turn 60. So, why shouldn't you just get a hysterectomy like everyone else?
The most important reason not to have a hysterectomy to treat your fibroids is that it is not necessary. Your fibroid symptoms can be cured without major surgery to remove an important internal organ. Removal of the uterus has many side effects, both short term and long term.
Hysterectomy is permanent
Hysterectomy is not reversible. You will no longer be able to bear children and you will no longer have menstrual periods. Some women think that they are done childbearing, but situations can change, and losing the ability to get pregnant before natural menopause can be a problem for some women.
Surgical risks and long term risks
660 women die every year from complications from hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is a major surgery, and any major abdominal surgery carries the possibility of blood clots, severe infections, hemorrhage, bowel obstruction, or urinary tract injury. Long term risks include early menopause due to gradual decline of the ovaries, bladder or bowel problems because of weakness of pelvic muscles and ligaments, and adhesions and scars in the pelvic area. There are also risks associated with general anesthesia and blood transfusions, both of which are common to hysterectomy.
Long recovery time
Recovery from hysterectomy, like any major surgery, averages about six weeks. That's how long it takes for women to return to work as long as the job isn't too strenuous. Many women find that they do not feel fully back to normal until about six months after the procedure.
Weight gain
Many women gain weight after hysterectomy, largely due to the forced inactivity while recovering. Some women can change their diet and take up an exercise program to lose the weight. Some women can't.
Sexual difficulties
Many women report a decrease in sexual enjoyment after hysterectomy. Some women have orgasms that are enhanced by contractions of the uterus. These women are likely to find that their sexual enjoyment is less fulfilling after hysterectomy. Many hysterectomies involve removal of the cervix as well, so women who find pressure against the cervix to be enjoyable during intercourse will no longer feel that pleasure. Some women report a reduction in libido, even when the ovaries have not been removed.
Depression
Many women experience depression after hysterectomy because it is such a permanent and major change. Some women feel that their sexual-self image is connected to having a uterus, so losing the uterus may cause loss of interest in sexual relations or depression associated with a change in sexuality.
Uterine fibroid embolization can treat your fibroid symptoms without any of the risks and side effects of hysterectomy. At first glance, it may appear to take longer for the UFE to relieve your symptoms, but notice that your symptoms are likely to be completely gone by about six months after UFE, which is about the same time that you'd feel completely recovered from the surgery to the remove your uterus. With UFE, you will still have your uterus, and you won't need to worry about the side effects and risks of hysterectomy.
Note: a hysterectomy can involve just the removal of the uterus or the ovaries may be removed as well. When hysterectomy is performed for the purpose of fibroid symptom reduction, there is no reason to remove the ovaries, so the above information assumes that the ovaries are left intact. If the ovaries are removed, the side-effects and health risks are greater due to the lack of hormones that the ovaries provide.