Guide to Hysterectomy Alternatives

The centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in four women will have a hysterectomy before the age of 60. I was twenty one. At that time there were very few options, and a complete hysterectomy was recommended. Hysterectomies are performed to treat certain cancers, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, and fibroids. There is some concern that many of these surgeries that are performed are unnecessary. Aside from the normal hormonal changes that a woman undergoes after a hysterectomy, the ability to have children is lost.

The United States Food and Drug Administration has approved a process known as Endometrial Ablation as a treatment for abnormal uterine bleeding. This minimally invasive procedure involves using heat or cold to destroy the uterine lining. Women who still express a desire to have children are not encouraged to have an Endometrial Ablation, because as a result of this surgery, any pregnancy will be extremely high risk, and prognosis is poor.

Malcom Monroe, M.D. states that the side effects of the Endometrial Ablation procedure are nausea, vomiting, vaginal discharge, and bleeding for up to six weeks following the surgery. Endometrial Ablation costs around $4,000, according to www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov .

A myomectomy is an alternative to a hysterectomy in the case of uterine fibroids, according to the United States Food and Drug Administration. This surgical procedure involves cutting away the fibroids, and occasional reconstruction of the uterus, so that the woman retains her ability to conceive and bear children. In some cases the fibroids have been reported to return. A myomectomy will generally cost around two thousand dollars.

Uterine Fibroid Embolization is a procedure that stops blood flow to uterine fibroids. The Fibroid Medical Center of Northern California reports that this procedure requires an overnight hospital stay, during which, a catheterization of the femoral artery is performed under a local anesthetic. Noted side effects of a Uterine Fibroid Embolization are pain, fever, nausea, and vaginal discharge, but the woman is still able to bear children. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, the cost of a Uterine Fibroid Embolization is about a thousand dollars.

Before undergoing a hysterectomy, it is important to discuss all of your options with your doctor. If you wish to retain the ability to have children, medications, hormone therapy, or these procedures may be an option.