Voluntary hysterectomy.

[CosmicCreepers]

TW: I talk about wanting a hysterectomy in this post, so if this is too sensitive please don't read, I don't wish to offend anyone this is just what I'm dealing with right now


Hi everyone,

I'm 20 years old, I've had extremely painful periods since the age of 14 and now am seriously considering saving up for a hysterectomy. I know it seem a bit shocking as I'm quite young to want this - but hear me out. I've suffered with PMS since I started having periods (around 12 years old). My periods are so bad I have to wear incontinence underwear at night to make sure the bed doesn't get stained.

Every time I get my period I'm overwhelmingly emotional, to the point where I feel completely hopeless. I used to be able to cope quite well with them when I was younger, but now I'm older this is more than just ouch that hurts and I'm craving ice cream.

I was on the implant for a year but had it taken out as I began to come on for over 2 weeks at a time and I've never felt more down in my life. I've been to the doctors, had blood tests and an ultrasound and everything came back fine, except for testosterone, that was high. They didn't seem concerned though. They said I may have PCOS without the cysts?

Hormonal contraception isnt an option for me now, at least I don't see any reason to have it as getting the implant removed was quite a lot to handle (fine having it put in) as it was during lockdown and it took them a while to remove it. I nearly passed out due to panicking and a fear of blood/needles stemming from fainting after donating blood 3 years ago.

Contraception is also going to cost the NHS money, when I'd rather save up and have a private hysterectomy. I don't think I'll ever get pregnant as although I love children and want to adopt - I doubt I'll ever be in a relationship with a man so that won't be an issue.

Right now I'm in severe pain and have been crying pretty much the entire day praying this will stop. I really could handle it before, but this seems to be getting worse. I'm really sorry if this offends anyone, I know some people will be upset I'm complaining about having a functioning uterus and wanting to remove it but this is beyond hell. I feel guilty for posting this in a way as I don't want to offend anyone.

Thanks for reading, I just want some advice from people who've had one.

 

[mermaidexoxo]

(I haven’t had a hysterectomy so by all means please disregard my comment. However I admire you very much and just from this one post can tell you are a very mature woman )

I can relate to you very much. I’m 27 and have suffered horrendously with my periods since I was 12. Heavy bleeding, passing blood clots, extreme pain to the point I’ve been to A&E, vomiting on my period, sleeping and crying for days, depression and so much more. I suspect I have endometriosis or PCOS but my GPs don’t want to know. The only contraceptive I have been on is the Progesterone only pill. This has worked wonders for me. I take it continuously without a break so dont have periods. Obviously it hasn’t solved the underlying issue and I am looking into going private for a full investigation to see if it is Endo or anything else.
& I too in the past considered a hysterectomy as I just couldn’t stand the pain and emotional trauma from my periods anymore

I know this isn’t the advice you were looking for but I just want you to know you are not alone in this. “Women’s problems” are never taken seriously.
I truly hope you get some responses from women who have experienced hysterectomies and can speak to you. X x

 

[ChloeBee]

Relate. I dont have heavy bleeding but have regular bleeding, extreme pain and vomiting. Had surgeries everything no answer. This is despite taking the pill back to back. There are other free options on the nhs you may want to try explore, less invasive procedures, prostap injections?
I completely understand how you've got to this point, its about quality of life.

 

[jazyblu]

I wouldn’t brush off the pill and jump to a hysterectomy so quickly. I don’t see why hormonal contraceptives aren’t an option to you but a massive surgery is? Honestly that doesn’t really match up. If you had a bad experience with the implant because you don’t like needles then surely that will apply to surgery too? They will need to take blood beforehand and also the anaesthesia will be via injection.

Talk to your doctor and explore some pill options, it might be a bit of trial and error for a year until you find something that works for you but many women have had good experiences at managing painful and heavy periods through the pill. Definitely worth being open minded and giving it a go as it is obviously much less invasive.
Good luck!

 

[ChloeBee]

Its also worth noting that even going private they might not perform a hysterectomy on a 20 year old, theres older women who have had a child that cant get it done sadly, it is your body and I understand how you feel but have you had a diagnostic laparoscopy to see if anything can be done?

 

[BettyCrocker]

You sound like you have an awful lot on your plate surrounding this issue - the physical stuff but also the low mood, your assumption that you will never be in a relationship etc - I think you need to write everything down - all of it - and please go back to your GP and explain everything. Take someone with you if you need support but please go back and see if they can help with all the different aspects of this for you. A hysterectomy is a major operation with a lot of side effects and at such a very young age I think you would struggle to fine anyone to agree to perform this - privately or otherwise.

 

[Drea1984]

Mirena coil. It will change your life

 

[Onepotatotwopotato]

Just wishing to echo what others have said about contraceptive pill, they can be Great for reducing periods

 

[SunshineDreamer]

I’ve never suffered like this but I can see how you’ve reached that point. As someone else has said, even by going private they might not do the hysterectomy or they may want you to go for counselling first to ensure it’s not something you will regret at a later point as of course, things so happen and people do change their minds.

I also second what was said about the Mirena/oral contraceptives. It sounds like you’re at a point where you have nothing to lose so it’s might not hurt trying. Have you ever had a hysteroscopy to check for fibroids or been put on mefenamic acid? It might be worth exploring, even if it’s just whilst going through the process or saving for and having the potential hysterectomy.

 

[Sosig]

There are lots of contraception methods that can help with this. Like yourself, in my teens the pain was absolutely unbearable but also very irregular to the point I felt like I was having 6 months worth of a period, they were that heavy. My GP told me at 15 I could have PCOS without the syndrome but they never went any further with it and to this day I don’t show any symptoms of it, I was underweight in my teens so probably had something to do with it.

The Depo injection was very good, after a few months it stops the period altogether and you don’t get the symptoms.

I now use the Evra patch and it’s probably the best thing I’ve been on, if I’m slightly heavy one month I’ll have barely any pain and vice versa.

No pill at all has ever been right for me.

At 27 I now have regular periods with or without contraception sometimes I can get really bad PMS but it’s quite rare as I make sure I’m eating right and taking vitamins.

 

[Bambix]

My mum had one years ago due to cancer, she was only young and was put on medication afterwards that made her even worse than the pms .plus she needed extra medication to help her maintain her bone strength. Have you spoken to your dr about other options, a friend of mine suffered really badly and they did something similar to a d&c which really helped her and now she doesn’t bleed as bad.

also I have heavy periodsand my dr gives me these tablets https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tranexamic-acid/ which really do help. Have you tried these, if not maybe ask your dr if they are a option for you

 

[eyeballs]

Have you considered going private for further investigations? I understand the NHS can be easy brush off this kind of thing, especially now.
Just wanted to say I feel for you. Hope you get some answers.

 

[Gertrude]

Sorry you are going through all of this. You must be feeling miserable.

I was going to suggest exactly what the previous poster suggested. To go privately for further tests and investigation. I’ve also suffered from really heavy and painful periods (amongst other issues) Was told it was nothing, until I went to a private gynaecologist and after some tests found uterine fibroids.

A full hysterectomy is really drastic and I’m sure there will be a better solution as there is always usually a reason for such heavy and painful periods. x

 

[Definitelyme]

My mum had one years ago due to cancer, she was only young and was put on medication afterwards that made her even worse than the pms .plus she needed extra medication to help her maintain her bone strength. Have you spoken to your dr about other options, a friend of mine suffered really badly and they did something similar to a d&c which really helped her and now she doesn’t bleed as bad.

also I have heavy periodsand my dr gives me these tablets https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/tranexamic-acid/ which really do help. Have you tried these, if not maybe ask your dr if they are a option for you

Yes my first thought was that you would then essentially be in menopause, and possibly on quite a lot of hormonal drugs, and it may not solve the emotional side at all.

I agree with the poster above who said pay for a private consultation to discuss your options. There may be many things you aren’t yet aware of.

 

[LaurieLaurie]

At 20? No way any doctor will do a hysterectomy even if you were private. You’ll feel differently at 30 etc.

 

[Whaaaaat]

I honestly think you would struggle to convince any doctor to perform a hysterectomy on you at 20. They just can’t open themselves up to that kind of liability.

Especially as all other options - such as the pill/coil etc haven’t been explored.

 

[CBo]

Bless you all, I had endo for years until my hysterectomy 5 years ago (it was diagnosed too late & I couldn’t have children anyway so made sense) you are all warriors & I’m sending you all loads of love

Sorry folks...very off topic but I've been debating having a hysterectomy (been suggested by various consultants). Luckily (?) I was diagnosed very early at 17. Have had 8 laparoscopies to remove, various different treatments, taken part in medical trials and nothing works. Would you recommend? x

 

[BlakeRose]

Sorry folks...very off topic but I've been debating having a hysterectomy (been suggested by various consultants). Luckily (?) I was diagnosed very early at 17. Have had 8 laparoscopies to remove, various different treatments, taken part in medical trials and nothing works. Would you recommend? x

I won’t lie it’s tough mentally but physically the best thing ever! I went in the day of my surgery looking like death, another urine infection still bleeding & felt dreadful….after surgery I looked like a new woman the nurse couldn’t believe I’d just had a hysterectomy I was in no pain & I was out 2 days later, I do not recommend HRT they forced me on it I put on 2 stone & fell into a depression & hardly left the house & made my hot flushes 10 times worse. I came off it 18 months ago, my hot flushes are manageable with clonodine & I lost all the weight I put on! Not everyone is the same of course you do what is right for you & don’t let any doctors force you to do things just cause it works for others, endo can be different for everyone a friend of mine had it & has two kids xx apologies for discussing on this thread but please know I’m here if you have any questions we endo sisters need to look out for each other

 

[Snail33]

Sounds like you might have endometriosis which can be ablated (burnt off) or excised (if in UK) which would really help. My advice as a first step would be to ask your GP for a referral to a Gyne and take it from there. They can organise a laparoscopy which is the only real way to diagnose endo. As others have said the pill can really, really help with the symptoms you have explained. I have had the same since I was 14. The concern is that if it is endo and is widespread, it can be on other organs (bowel, ovaries, bladder etc.) so a hysterectomy won't solve the problem. Good luck x

 

[Rippedjeanmaybe]

If you did this, it could bring on early menopause, which can cause health issues in itself. It’s not just the night sweats and moods, because you’d be lacking oestrogen, you’d also be at risk of bone disorders and other potentially life changing disorders.

I don’t know if a doctor would preform one, based on those reasons alone, but it’s something for you to consider anyway.

I take the pill to help with my periods as they extremely painful and I also get intense PMS and the pill does help me.

I do really feel for you, it’s such an awful thing to go through.