The Difference Between Hysterectomies
There are a couple of different kinds of hysterectomies, and they're commonly confused:
First is a total hysterectomy where they take both the uterus and the cervix.
Second is a subtotal or supracervical, which leaves the cervix in place.
Now, doctors seem keen to take out other stuff while they're in there. Things like the ovaries and appendix. This is something I just can't fathom. There is a very strong history of doctors being told to "first do no harm." To regard a healthy gland such as the ovaries as something to be discarded in an otherwise healthy woman is just malicious.
I'm not sure where doctors got it into their head to remove healthy ovaries. I've started looking around and there's really no studies to back it up. Statistics say that there will be less ovarian cancer, but that's about it. I mean, we could remove my thyroid to get rid of my already low risk of getting thyroid cancer and put me on thyroid hormones for the rest of my life, but why would we? They don't remove a man's testicles when they do prostate operations.
Why? What led them to believe that this was a good idea?
So, removing the uterus is a hysterectomy. The press gets this confused a lot because doctors seem confused. They say that hysterectomy causes this or that, but in reality it's removing the ovaries in most cases.
Removing the ovaries is called either oophorectomy or castration. That's right, removing the gonads in the either sex is castration. I bet if you went to the doctor and he said he'd like to castrate you while he's there in your abdomen you'd decline his kind offer.
It's time for women to stop having to defend their ovaries - when a woman goes to the doctor for a hysterectomy she's asked if she wants her ovaries taken out, or a doctor checks that she is, and if she doesn't say anything there they go.
Here's today's article about the recent study that supports that ovaries should be conserved.
Posted by Elizabeth M. on August 9, 2005 06:57 PM
Kat, I'm not sure if your comment is on topic or an advertisement for this Dr. West.
You say that hysterectomy is not the option, but that's not really true - it is an option (though not necessarily the best one) that so many women end up with because their own doctors are either poorly informed, or worse, not really looking out for their patients.
Though I think many women should get alternative treatments, I think the biggest battle at the moment should be waged for women's ovaries.
Tracy, the editor of Health Diaries has opened up the website for one-off articles on topics such as this. I think it'd be great if you would write an article to help women to see what their options are and help them explore them.
I hope you'll check it out.
I'm not sure what your comments have to do with the question. I am looking to find out the difference between the two so I can be more imformed when I talk to my doctor and am able to ask all the right questions in order to get the answers that I want. Your site has not really helped in that respect.
Hysterectomy is not the option. It's rarely necessary. First, you must talk to Dr. Stanley West, Manhattan Fibroids. Then decide...