Hi Tneah and Garance
This is not to bash Garance for the article she suggests reading (it's available online BTW), but as was discussed in the original thread, the alternatives are RARELY a lasting solution. I've yet to meet a woman who found relief w/ them (ablation, fibroidectomy, D&C, embolization, BC pills) that lasted longer than 6 months. No, I don't know every woman on the planet, but I've been amazed at the confessions I've heard from casual friends to mere acquaintances when they find out I had a hysterectomy. I would love to see a survey of how many women had alternatives done (and how many different alternatives) before they finally conceded to a hysterectomy. I myself had a hysteroscopy 2 years before my hysterectomy. The relief lasted 3 months then back to "full bleed ahead."
I have regained an entire week back of my life every month of the year since I had my surgery. That's 3 months every year until I go into menopause, say in 7 more years, based on my mother's experience. Just do that math and think about what you might do if you had 3 more months every year reclaimed from a bleeding, cramping nightmare.
As far as the argument of not "feeling like a woman" since one no longer will have a uterus/ovaries--please, give me just a small effen break. That's one hell of a sexist suggestion, even if it's posed by a woman in the article. I don't need to suffer because of my organs working improperly, whether they are reproductive ones or not. I find that appalling and that kind of psychobabble has been used to the detriment of women's well being for centuries.
Lastly, some alternative procedures are performed by radiologists who I believe want to increase their "market share." Hence, a proliferation of articles against hysterectomies spawned by radiologist associations.
Surgerical solutions are not for everyone, but I'd hate to see anyone say "no" to something that could help them enormously based on misinformation.
Okay, rant over. Back to your regularly scheduled programming...
