Should i take uterus out

When all the tests came back normal, he said endometriosis might be the cause of my pain. He suggested a hysterectomy but did say that endometriosis can grow back in other places. I still wanted to have a child, so I said no hysterectomy. Fortunately, I did get pregnant, and ever since having my baby my periods have been so much better! My doctor told me endometriosis might be causing my painful periods. I'd never even heard of it before. She told me all about endometriosis and the treatments I could try.

She suggested I try taking birth control pills and using ibuprofen before and during my period. It took a couple of months of using this system, but now I hardly have any pain. I am glad I didn't have surgery. Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. I tried hormones and had laparoscopic surgery, and my symptoms are still bad.

I'm not close to menopause, so I don't want to wait for the symptoms to go away. I'm close to menopause, so I prefer to wait for the symptoms to go away. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision. Show which way you are leaning right now. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Here's a record of your answers. You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Some of the problems include: 2.

I'm close to menopause, so I could take medicine and wait for my symptoms to go away rather than have surgery. If I have my ovaries and uterus taken out, endometriosis will never give me pain again. I can take estrogen after surgery to make my bones stronger and to keep from having hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.

Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content. To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Updated visitor guidelines. Get the facts. Your options Have your uterus and ovaries removed to treat symptoms from endometriosis. Keep using hormone therapy or have more laparoscopic surgery to remove endometriosis and scar tissue. Key points to remember There is no cure for endometriosis. Hormone therapy or taking out tissue with laparoscopic surgery can ease pain.

But pain often returns within a year or two. Taking out the ovaries oophorectomy and the uterus hysterectomy usually relieves pain.

But the pain relief doesn't always last. Pain comes back in up to 15 out of women who have this surgery. When your menstrual periods stop at around age 50 menopause and your estrogen levels drop, endometriosis growth and symptoms will probably also stop.

In some cases, scar tissue remains after menopause and can cause problems. Taking out the uterus and ovaries is a major surgery with short-term and long-term risks. Recovery usually takes 4 to 6 weeks. The sudden drop in estrogen after taking out the ovaries causes worse menopause symptoms than you would have with natural menopause. The low estrogen also makes your bones start to thin at a younger age.

This raises your risk of osteoporosis later in life. It's one reason why some doctors remove only one ovary when treating a younger woman. If you have your ovaries removed, you can choose to take estrogen therapy. It will protect your bones and prevent menopause symptoms after your ovaries are removed. But it may also make endometriosis come back. You also may want to have surgery if you're not close to menopause and your symptoms are so bad that you're willing to accept the risks and side effects of surgery.

What is endometriosis? How will endometriosis affect you? Symptoms often get better during pregnancy and usually go away after menopause.

How well does surgery help symptoms? Taking out the uterus and ovaries is usually the last choice in treatment. This is because: It is a major surgery with a long recovery. It makes you unable to get pregnant. It causes a sudden drop in your level of estrogen. This leads to menopause and side effects such as making your bones thinner. What are the risks of surgery? This surgery has different types of risks. Risks from having surgery Most women don't have problems from surgery.

But problems can include: A fever. A slight fever is common after any surgery. Trouble urinating. Continued heavy bleeding. Some vaginal bleeding within 4 to 6 weeks after surgery is normal. Continued pain. Pelvic pain that you had before surgery may not be helped by surgery. Change in sexual function. Rare problems, such as: Blood clots in the legs or the lungs. Scar tissue also called adhesions. Injury to other organs, such as the bladder or bowel.

A collection of blood at the surgical site. Problems from general anesthesia. Severe blood loss that causes you to need more blood transfusion. Removing the ovaries if you're at risk is a different decision than if you're not at risk. Removing the ovaries may increase your risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.

If you have your ovaries removed before menopause, you will go into early menopause. You may get hot flashes and other symptoms. What is oophorectomy? What are the benefits of oophorectomy? Have a family history of ovarian cancer before age What are the risks of having your ovaries removed? Having your ovaries removed before age 65 may increase your chance of getting: footnote 1 Osteoporosis , which can lead to broken bones and hip fractures.

Heart disease , which is the number one cause of death in women in the United States. Why might your doctor recommend having your ovaries removed? Your doctor may recommend having your ovaries removed when you have a hysterectomy if: You have a BRCA gene change. You have a strong family history of early ovarian cancer. You have a higher risk of ovarian cancer if a close family member, especially your mother or sister, has had breast cancer.

You have a type of breast cancer that estrogen causes to grow. You have severe premenstrual syndrome that could be helped by having your ovaries removed. You have had pelvic pain that involved your ovaries. Compare your options. Compare Option 1 Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy Have hysterectomy only. Compare Option 2 Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy Have hysterectomy only.

Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy Have ovaries removed along with hysterectomy The ovaries are removed through the same incision made for the hysterectomy.

You stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days. Some women stay for up to 4 days. You may take estrogen therapy. If you are at high risk for breast cancer or ovarian cancer, removing the ovaries greatly reduces your risk.

If you have severe PMS, you may feel better after you have your ovaries removed. Removing the ovaries increases the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis. If you have your ovaries removed before menopause , you will go into early menopause. Removing the ovaries during hysterectomy poses no additional surgical risks than having a hysterectomy alone. Have hysterectomy only Have hysterectomy only You stay in the hospital for 1 to 2 days. For women at average risk: The benefits of keeping the ovaries usually outweigh the risks, especially for younger women.

Hysterectomy itself can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer. If you are at high risk for breast cancer or ovarian cancer, you will still be at risk. Personal stories about having an oophorectomy with a hysterectomy These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. What matters most to you? Reasons to have your ovaries removed during hysterectomy Reasons not to have your ovaries removed during hysterectomy. I will worry less about cancer if I have my ovaries removed.

I'm not that worried about cancer. I don't mind going into early menopause. I don't want to go into early menopause. I don't have severe PMS symptoms. My other important reasons: My other important reasons:. Where are you leaning now? Having my ovaries removed NOT having my ovaries removed. What else do you need to make your decision? Check the facts. Yes You're right. Studies show that if you are at high risk for ovarian cancer, surgery to remove your ovaries may greatly lower your risk.

No Sorry, that's not right. I'm not sure It may help to go back and read "Get the Facts. Yes Sorry, that's not right. No You're right. Having your ovaries removed before age 65 can increase your chances of getting heart disease and osteoporosis. These exercises strengthen the muscles in your pelvis, and help maintain normal bladder function and vaginal muscle tone. Your doctor or physiotherapist will let you know how soon you can start these particular exercises. Be guided by your doctor, but general suggestions for the four to six-week post-operative period include:.

After hysterectomy, you will no longer need contraception or have menstrual periods. If your ovaries were removed, you may experience menopause symptoms starting within a few days of your surgery. If you were still having periods before your hysterectomy, your doctor should discuss oestrogen replacement therapy or other options with you. How long you might need oestrogen replacement therapy will depend on your age. Hysterectomy can be an effective treatment for gynaecological conditions such as fibroids, endometriosis and adenomyosis, though sometimes endometriosis may recur.

If you have had a hysterectomy to treat cancer, depending on the stage of the cancer you will need to have regular check-ups to make sure you are cancer free.

You may need to have a regular vault smear test — similar to a cervical screening test but involving cells from the top of your vagina instead of the cervix. If you have had a subtotal hysterectomy uterus removed but cervix retained then you will need to continue having cervical screening. This page has been produced in consultation with and approved by:. Androgen deficiency in women and its treatment is controversial, and more research is needed.

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Skip to main content. Home Surgery. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Reasons for a hysterectomy Hysterectomy for women of childbearing age Other roles of the uterus and ovaries Treatments other than hysterectomy Types of hysterectomy Before choosing a hysterectomy Hysterectomy operation After a hysterectomy Where to get help. Hysterectomy for women of childbearing age Once a woman has had a hysterectomy of any kind, she cannot become pregnant.

Other roles of the uterus and ovaries The uterus has important functions other than childbearing, including: sexuality — the uterus rhythmically contracts during orgasm, contributing to sensations of pleasure self-image — the uterus is of great psychological importance to some women for many reasons, including fertility, femininity, sexuality and body image. These include: fibroids heavy or irregular menstrual periods uterine prolapse endometriosis.

Fibroids Fibroids are non-cancerous growths that form within the muscular walls of the uterus. Heavy menstrual bleeding Heavy menstrual bleeding may be due to fibroids, adenomyosis, cancers, bleeding disorders, other medical conditions and also unknown causes. Alternative treatment to a hysterectomy for heavy bleeding may include: hormone therapies — such as progestins progesterone-like medications , levonorgestrel -releasing IUDs, etonogestrel-releasing implants and Depo Provera combined oral contraceptive pill surgery — endometrial ablation.

Uterine prolapse Alternative treatment to a hysterectomy for uterine prolapse depends on the degree of prolapse, but may include: pelvic floor exercises the insertion of a pessary into the vagina to prop up the uterus surgical repair without hysterectomy.