Voluntary Hysterectomy?

I was wondering if anyone knew if drs. do volunatry hysterectomy's? Can they refuse it. I have a long history of ovarian cancer in my family, (my sister was diagonosed at 35 & had a full hysterectomy) I have been diagnosed with PCOS since the birth of my second son. I am done having children, and I have a lot of problems with my periods and cysts. I was just wondering if anyone knows if you can be denied by a dr to have a hysterectomy. I know I would be going through menopause early and I would need to be on different medications for the side effects.

If any one has any opinions on this or has been through a partial or full hysterectomy I would love to hear your story or advice.

Thanks in advance.

Any doctor worth the paper his medical degree is printed on will NOT do a hysterectomy unless there is PROFOUND medical evidence that your life would be better without than with your uterus.

Your uterus -- beyond the obvious use -- plays a vital role in your organ positioning. Without it, many women suffer from prolapsed bladder and/or bowel, internal organ shift, and a myriad of other complications that often have to be corrected through additional surgery.

So unless you have an actual medical NEED to have your uterus and/or ovaries removed, those puppies will most likely be staying.

Knowing however that you have a history of ovarian cancer AND that you have PCOS, you should be more vigilant about getting ovarian ultrasounds done and ALWAYS be on time for your annual pap smears.

Many doctors are reluctant, but the fact that you already have children will make it easier for you to convince a doctor. Can they refuse? Absolutely. So your best bet is to go ahead and ask, and be willing to argue your case.

I had asked my drs about giving me a hysterectomy after the birth of my 4th child.....since it was a c-section & they were already there.....
I got denied there......too much risk of blood loss (since I was prego).

Based on your family history.....I'd talk to the doctors.....they might be okay with it. It's worth a shot anyway.
(now getting the insurance company to approve the procedure might be a whole different battle).

Good luck!

If you go to the gynecologist for help with heavy periods and/or painful periods, and medications do not help, all you need to do is insist on a definitive treatment, like a hysterectomy.

Note that there may be other options to try first.. Medications, injectable medications, thermal therapy of the endometrial lining.... to mention just a few.

As far as definitive treatment (hysterectomy), there are several ways to have it done... traditional open hysterectomy, vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopic abdominal hysterectomy, laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy, and robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy.

best thing to do is make an appointment with your gynecologist.

My sister had tubal ligation but had bad periods. She is 35, she talked her doctor into giving her endometrial ablation. They go into your uterus and cauterize the lining so that you will never get periods again. It has been successfull for her and since she kept her uterus and ovaries, she does not have hormonal probs or early menopause. See if that is an option for you.

A hysterectomy isn't going to keep you from getting ovarian cancer. What you are looking for is called a prophylactic oophorectomy (that is, removal of the ovaries), and it is certainly done for women at high risk of ovarian cancer. Whether you need to get a full hysterectomy as well is a matter to talk with a doctor about. You might want to see whether you can get some genetic counseling to evaluate your risk before proceeding.

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-...