May is Hysterectomy Awareness month… so here you go!
Aren’t you glad I didn’t put a photo of a uterus here? :)
There are many different reasons why some women have their uterus removed in a hysterectomy. Many of their experiences are painful and desperately sad. If you have gone through this surgery due to health issues such as cancer, extreme endometriosis, fibroids, or other health concerns, I just want you to know you are loved and seen and your pain is valid. Also, if you have needed to have this surgery before you were able to have the family you desired, my heart mourns with yours. This is a very deep loss that leaves a scar that never fully heals. As we think about “Hysterectomy Awareness Month”, I wanted to share my personal experience.
May 9th, 2025 was a wonderful day! I was brimming with joy, anticipation and (let’s be honest) a little bit of nervousness. Today, I was getting my uterus removed. I was so tired of bleeding. So very tired of being tired because I had very low hemoglobin from constant blood loss. I had been dealing with submucosal uterine fibroids for a year and a half. That means that the fibroids were imbedded in the uterine wall, so my uterus had no idea when to stop cramping. It was incredibly painful! I had no period. I just bled. Constantly. I was an angry, tired mama. Normally very scared of surgery, I had tried all the “natural” things first but to no avail. The only cure for my specific type of fibroids was surgery.
My reproductive health has been the classic tale of “I never thought it would happen to me!” But no one is immune to perimenopause, and all the fun rides it takes you on. I needed to find a good gynecologist and the one I had wasn’t. You don’t know what you don’t know and I’m not a huge fan of finding all my info on the internet when so much information is opinion based or just false. My doctor did not inform me that I could have a hysterectomy and keep my ovaries. I was not informed that the surgery was robotic with a quick and easy recovery time. I was told nothing. I had no idea what to ask as I was in a constant state of exhaustion and brain fuzz. It took a trip to the emergency room due to scary overnight hemorrhaging that led me to start getting the right information and asking the right questions. A family friend recommended a great surgeon who I have recommended to others. Now, a year later, I can honestly say I feel great! I have energy again! I’m able to fully be present to my clients. My experience with a hysterectomy has been very positive because it brought healing and came at the right time. I am so thankful for our modern technology that can help heal and remove an organ with minimal blood loss! Thank you to my doctor and nurses who cared for me and so many other women who have to have hysterectomies. No one jumps for joy when they find out that they need an operation. It can feel scary. There is help and answers to your questions if you are facing health concerns that may lead to a hysterectomy. The following website (Hysterectomy - Hysterectomy.org - Awareness) can be a good starting point.