Monday, November 9, 2009

Avoiding Myths About Hysterectomy

Why is it that intelligent, educated women, when faced with a surgery like hysterectomy, sometimes fall victim to myths passed along by friends and family? Here's a common-sense strategy for dispelling the myths and facing your surgery armed with the best information.

Step One: Collect Your Questions
Rather than panicking when your doctor mentions hysterectomy as an option, take the time to build your list of questions. This is your body, your surgery and your future, so slowing down the process long enough to have your questions answered is a good first step.

One mistake some women make when faced with hysterectomy is to rush about asking the women they know who've had the surgery about their experiences. While we all like to know what to expect, finding a balance between the stories our friends tell and good, solid medical advice can help us to make better decisions.

Write down the things that concern you. Are you worried about hormonal changes? Do you know what to expect post-surgically? Does the prospect of pain have you panicky?

Your friends and family members may be well-intentioned, but try to avoid getting caught up in horror stories about their hysterectomies. Medical issues women face, from
pelvic pain to tubal ligation, aren't always experienced the same way.

Step Two: Go to the Best Source
A good OB/GYN practitioner is engaged enough with patients to want to make sure their questions are answered. Armed with your list of questions, got to your doctor and learn what you need to know.

Hysterectomy is a major surgery, and certainly shouldn't be taken lightly. That's why it's essential to ask your questions before you take the next step. You may have plenty of people offering "advice" about whether or not to have this procedure, but only you, with the help of your health care practitioner, can decide what's best.

Step Three: Make an Informed Decision
After speaking with your doctor about your options and having all your questions answered, you can now make a decision that makes sense for your life. No need to shun well-meaning friends when they rush to share their hysterectomy experiences, but keep in mind their lives, bodies and surgeries may be very different from your own.

Whether or not you go forward with having a
hysterectomy, talking it through with a caring medical professional is the best way to gain the knowledge you need. Make a decision that you can live with based on facts, and use your network to provide emotional support. You'll find it's much nicer having the support of old friends rather than basing such an important decision on the tales they might have.

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