You're facing a decision: Should you have a hysterectomy to stop your abnormal uterine bleeding?
Or would you rather avoid surgery and try other things to manage your symptoms?
It really is your choice ...
and it's important to think about both the medical facts and your own feelings.
This video will give you some information that can help you compare your choices ...
so you can make a decision that's right for you.
Okay, let's look at your choices.
You could choose not to have a hysterectomy.
There are other treatments you could try, such as birth control pills ... an IUD ... or endometrial ablation.
You may need to try a few different ones to find what works for you.
These treatments often work well to reduce or even stop bleeding ...
and some hormone treatments may help make your periods more regular.
If you choose these treatments, you'll avoid the risks of surgery.
And you'll still have all of your female organs. That's very important to some women.
But you might have side effects that you don't like, such as headaches or bloating.
And if these treatments don't work, you may keep having heavy or irregular periods until you reach menopause.
Your other choice is to have a hysterectomy.
This surgery usually will be recommended only if you have severe symptoms that you aren't able to control with other treatments ...
you know you don't want to get pregnant in the future ... and menopause, the time when bleeding would end naturally, is still years away.
Having your uterus removed will stop uterine bleeding.
And it frees you from having to use birth control.
Most women who have a hysterectomy are satisfied with the results ...
But any surgery has risks.
And in this case, the risks include heavy blood loss, infection, blood clots, and damage to the bladder or bowel.
And hysterectomy is a major surgery, so it might take as long as 4 to 6 weeks to recover from it.
So ... are your symptoms bad enough that you're willing to accept the risks of surgery?
Or would you rather keep your uterus, even if it means you may keep having abnormal bleeding?
When you've answered those questions, your next step is to tell your doctor which way you're leaning.
Now ... it can be hard sometimes to talk to doctors, especially if you're not used to it.
But your thoughts and feelings are important ... and your doctor wants to hear them ...
so that by working together, you can decide which choice is best for you.
