http://www.theprotestandtheplay.com Wed, 03 Dec 2008 21:14:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 http://www.theprotestandtheplay.com/2008/04/24/march-against-unwanted-unwarranted-unconsented-hysterectomies/#comment-2 Carol Read Tue, 29 Apr 2008 00:05:06 +0000 http://www.theprotestandtheplay.com/2008/04/24/march-against-unwanted-unwarranted-unconsented-hysterectomies/#comment-2 My former doctor wanted me to have a bilateral oophorectomy-hysterectomy to treat a uterine polyp and heavy menstrual bleeding. I credit this doctor's locum for getting me the help I needed--referrals to two ultrasounds, which diagnosed the polyp; a referral to a great gynecologist, who removed the polyp and performed an endometrial ablation, making my periods very light; and adequate iron therapy to raise my hemoglobin to a healthy level. Scare tactics? My former doctor phoned me up saying my "life was in danger" --because after five weeks of iron therapy my hemoglobin level was "only" 114 (normal being 120-160). The two ultrasounds, by the way, had shown my reproductive organs, including my ovaries, to be healthy. Yet my former doctor used the "prevent cancer" scare tactic to push for an oophorectomy "while you're at it." He told me that he was "building a case for hysterectomy." He also claimed that a hysterectomy wouldn't interfere with continence or libido. I urge all women with doctors such as my former doctor to look at a cross-section picture of a woman's reproductive organs. Next, please watch any video on youtube showing a hysterectomy. What you'll see is a large muscle attached to blood vessels and ligaments being removed. What are the effects of that? What are the effects of castration (removal of the ovaries)? What are the mortality rates for post-hysterectomy? The heart disease rates? The osteoporosis rates? The cancer rates? These are the questions I asked when researching hysterectomy. My former doctor wanted me to have a bilateral oophorectomy-hysterectomy to treat a uterine polyp and heavy menstrual bleeding. I credit this doctor’s locum for getting me the help I needed–referrals to two ultrasounds, which diagnosed the polyp; a referral to a great gynecologist, who removed the polyp and performed an endometrial ablation, making my periods very light; and adequate iron therapy to raise my hemoglobin to a healthy level. Scare tactics? My former doctor phoned me up saying my “life was in danger” –because after five weeks of iron therapy my hemoglobin level was “only” 114 (normal being 120-160). The two ultrasounds, by the way, had shown my reproductive organs, including my ovaries, to be healthy. Yet my former doctor used the “prevent cancer” scare tactic to push for an oophorectomy “while you’re at it.” He told me that he was “building a case for hysterectomy.” He also claimed that a hysterectomy wouldn’t interfere with continence or libido. I urge all women with doctors such as my former doctor to look at a cross-section picture of a woman’s reproductive organs. Next, please watch any video on youtube showing a hysterectomy. What you’ll see is a large muscle attached to blood vessels and ligaments being removed. What are the effects of that? What are the effects of castration (removal of the ovaries)? What are the mortality rates for post-hysterectomy? The heart disease rates? The osteoporosis rates? The cancer rates? These are the questions I asked when researching hysterectomy.

]]>