Re: Why the hysterectomy route so often?

[Guest guest]

Hi, I know what you mean. Doctors do say the " H " word 1st. Mine

did not tell me to get one, but to explore my obtions. When I told

him I wanted to get a Uterine Fibroid Embolization, he was very

receptive to this and said he had heard that there have been very

positive results!! I was happy and encouraged!!! I asked him where

he has been referring his patients and he said he hasn't!! I said,

what do they all do? He said, they all just want to get it over

with and go with the hysterectomy!!! I was shocked that so many

women do not research other obtions. Sure in some cases, maybe it's

the best route, but in my opionion, we have to take our health into

our own hands. Most UFE's are researched by women themselves and

are self referred by the time they have a consult with the IR.

ly, I can't wait to see my gyno to tell him how positive my

research and experience has been, and how fantastic my IR was and

hopefully I will be an eye opener to him so that he can encourage

other patients to possibly go that route.

I think a lot of women think it's their only option.

Unfortunatley, a lot of times you may trade one set of problems for

another. Jen

> Besides the fact that a disproportionate number of doctors

suggests hyst as the singlularly #1 choice for us: is it because doctors

are taking the easy way out? or are too lazy? or uninformed? or

unskilled?

[Guest guest]

You know, I think it's a combination of everything you said.

In my experience, doctors do not always try to keep up with the

latest information or medical technology. You have to seek out one

that does and, in my experience, a specialist may be more inclined to

do so. Even that is no guarantee as many gynos in the USA turn to

hysterectomy as a " solution " to " female problems. " I am starting to

wonder if gynecology is the one specialty where doctors feel they

can " sell " women on the idea of hysterectomy and depend upon us to

not ask questions, question authority or just say no to pop off some

well known cliches. Since my teen years, I know I have read articles

in magazines that claim US gynos are over-selling hysterectomy as a

lucrative practice. I have personally known women who were told out

of the blue by their doctor that it was " time " for them to have the

hysterectomy as if there were a time table for surrendering the

uterus....even in the absence of any problem of any kind. A former co-

worker complained about menstrual problems for years to a male gyno

who simply put the pressure on her to have the uterus removed... " one

day, when you are ready, you'll ask me to do it " he told her. Seeing

as he offered her no other help, she eventually did succumb to the

pressure by age 38. When I asked her why she did not seek out other

options (this was about 11 years ago when I knew her and her uterus

had been removed 3 years prior), she adamantly insisted that

she " trusted her doctor " as if that was all there was for her to have

considered. Our reproductive/sexual health is not that much of an

issue. It seems to me that it is hard to convince this profession and

even women themselves that the uterus is worthy of preservation when

the dominant mentality is that the uterus is only useful for having a

baby and is otherwise a pain in the crotch for women. And goodness

knows, you don't want to get between some women and the doctor

they " TRUST " implicitly.

Today I saw my DO for a regular check-up (not related to fibroids)

and to get some help with a vaginal infection. He thinks the latter

is a mix of yeast and bacteria due to my symptoms. In a way, I'm

relieved as I was fearing that the discharge was from my fibroids

again and that this was possibly a sign that they were growing. When

I told him, finally, that I was diagnosed through the ER with

fibroids, he made the comment, " Well a hysterectomy is

out...obviously. " He was referring to my lack of insurance...not the

fact that the operation was unnecessary. :::::::SIGH::::::: This is a

well-meaning doctor, just not informed on this subject. This has put

me in mind of how, for 23 years of my adult life, I have consistently

received sub-standard care even when I had insurance and was seeing a

gyno regularly. Why sub-standard? Because no one ever took seriously

the hormonal imbalances that may very well underlie my fibroids just

as they contribute to other problems. I am very frustrated that I did

not seek alternative approaches myself. Now that is another topic

altogether that I thought about on the way to work after the

appointment...............

Gloria

> Besides the fact that a disproportionate number of doctors suggests

> hyst as the singlularly #1 choice for us: is it because doctors are

> taking the easy way out? or are too lazy? or uninformed? or

> unskilled?

[Guest guest]

Aren't these doctors sometimes following some policy

guidelines they've learnt somewhere some time?

There must be some pyramid through which information and

guidelines filter down, from research articles and Royal

Colleges, College lecturers and medical text book authors,

information sites for doctors to reference and gynaecology

journals.