PLease Don't Take Away My Ability to Have Children at 20!

[RunLola]

I just went to the ER today for a severely prolapsed uterus. I've now planned an appointment with my Dr. for tomorrow, but the ER Dr. says for the severity of this condition I'll need a Hysterectomy. But I'm only 20! I mean, next year I'll be graduating as a dual major and I just have so much I want to explore and do, including having a child when the time is right. I also know that getting my uterus removed would make me age, stop producing estrogen, etc. I don't know what to do at this point... Are there any alternative options? A surgery that doesn't make me infertile for the rest of my life?
For some background info, I'm also very scared because there's only 3 things in a human body that can "prolapse" and this is the 2nd one for me. I've already had laparoscopic surgery to treat that one, but I fear it's coming back. That surgery put me in a hospital bed for 14 days, and in a bed for 1 and a 1/2 months. I can't take off work for that long again or I won't even be able to cover rent...
Please, if anyone can just even post some experience they've had with this, or dealing with being infertile you have no idea how much I would appreciate it. I have no one I can talk about this with aside from who I hope to find here

[WildChild]

As with any surgery you need to see another doctor, there are more hysterectomies performed in the US than any place else. Make sure the other doctor is in a different practice and don't tell them that surgery has been recomended. The medical profession has a tendency not to want to step on each other's toes.

Visit the library and get ahold of the Dec issue of More magazine. They had an excellent article on various medical procedures, including hysterectomy, and why many doctors don't utilize alternative procedures. I think you will find it enlightening and I hope, helpful.

[ItsASecret]

With a prolapsed uterus technically the surgery is not needed unless the cervix is extending outside of the vagina. In that case it is considered severe prolapse because of the much greater chance of infection, and no one wants that to happen.

The only other options the doctor can give are the laparoscopic ligament procedure that you said you have already had, as well as a device called a pessary. A pessary is sort of like a diaphragm, used to elevate the uterus. Some of those though require the physician to change, and some are easy for the patient to change themselves.

Just do add, is your doctor suggesting partial or complete hysterectomy? Partial is just the uterus, and complete is the whole lot of it (uterus + cervix + ovaries). Either way hormonal replacements will be necessary. But if the cervix is left intact it will help with maintaining the pelvic structure. If it is a total hysterectomy you may want to ask if you can still keep your cervix intact. Surgeons go to school for 10+ years so it is not like they are trying to put you through something as traumatic as this unless medically there is nothing else they can do.

[TashaPT]

Obviously am not in a position to diagnose -- so this may not be an appropriate next step for you, but ask your doctor about physical therapy and whether that might be an avenue for you to try. You can find a list of PTs who specialize in women's health at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) website.

I had a prolopse after my 1st delivery (and w/each subsequent) -- but was able to address my problem with a focused exercise protocol.

Again, this may not be an option for your situation, but if you haven't explored it, I would encourage you to ask.

Good luck,

Tasha Mulligan MPT, APT, CSCS
Creator of Hab It: Pelvic Floor DVD

[RunLola]

Wildchild, I did some reading about that. Thanks so much for the info! I just went and saw a specialist, and he didn't even really "examine" or seem to think it over, he just said I'd need a hysterectomy too. He had me sit in his office and explained that I would never be able to have children. Needless to say, I was a bit frustrated. Especially since I'd just read about the the overuse of hysterectomy, I kept imagining my Doctor thinking my sex organs were expendable and that a hysterectomy was their idea of some magic penicillin . So I called and found another Doctor. This one said a hysterectomy would have been completely premature, and recommended just tightening the ligaments through surgery and biofeedback therapy, which I'll be more than happy to try.
I can't believe they had me so worked up over a surgery which I probably won't even need.To think this forum may have just saved my uterus... Thanks guys.

[WildChild]

I'm so glad you stuck with it until you found a doctor who listened! I think that article is one of the best on women's health that I've read.