Women's problems. These are two words that strike fear in men. They don't understand, and "Thank you very much, please don't even try to explain it to us." All men really know is that their wives and girlfriends go through some sort of evil bonding monthly ritual. This monthly ritual makes the women cranky, seems to be painful to them, and forces them to buy something called tampons or sanitary napkins. Please ladies, stock up, because it is the rare male who will buy this item for you if you are in a bind. Men think that it takes away some of their testosterone or something.
What most men don't realize, is that women aren't too thrilled with this monthly ritual either. And what makes matters worse is the fact that when a woman develops "female" problems, most of the doctors in this field are men. Men. The same sex that not only hates to hear their wives complain about such things but also the same sex who never went through this for even one month, let alone every month for 40 years or so.
One of my friends started to run into problems at the ripe old age of 14. Her periods were never regular and she was always prone to heavy bleeding. By the time she reached 31 her male doctor was more or less blaming her for the problems. "Well, if you had children like you were supposed to all this wouldn't be happening to you," or "Lose more weight1x Any extra weight will upset your hormonal balance."
The day he ordered her to have a hysterectomy was the day she asked him how much she owed him and walked out of his office for the last time. She found a female gynecologist who told her that the operation was not necessary at that point in time, and that there were other options. Now, 14 years later, my friend still is in possession of all of her original parts.
Many doctors, especially male gynecologists, tell women in their forties or even thirties, that having a hysterectomy is the only and best way to cure their problems. These doctors' argument is usually something to the effect of, "Well, you have your children already, why bother with the monthly bleeding?" Others just tell women, "There's nothing that can be done for you. Having this surgery is the only way. It is the rule." They also usually advise taking out your ovaries while they're there. "Well," they say, "you don't need them, and they might cause trouble later1x"
The truth of the matter is that even though hysterectomies have become relatively common, taking out a women's reproductive organs can cause many new problems. Sure, the monthly bleeding may be gone but so is the source of estrogen, that chemical that helps prevent heart attacks in women and helps them in so many other ways. Without estrogen, women have to decide if they need Hormone Replacement Therapy.
I'm not telling anyone not to listen to their male doctors, or any of their doctors. Just remember that there are other ways to relieve some of the medical problems. Make a point of speaking to your doctor, ask questions, and do some research of your own.
Make the decision that is best for you, not easiest for your doctor.
