Hysterectomy: Exploring Your Options (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) - Softcover

"A valuable reference. Is the drastic operation, which is one of the most contentious medical issues, often performed unnecessarily? Are there alternatives? Is the operation's effect on a woman's emotions and sexuality worth it? The authors, who are specialists in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, offer a balanced view."

"The book is presented clearly with information that is current, accurate, and very readable."

"An excellent reference not only for patients but also for nurses, medical assistants, and clerical staff who work in a busy gynecologist's office. The medical information is presented clearly, is current and accurate, and is very readable. There is no comparable book available to the public."

Hysterectomy is the second most common major surgical procedure performed on women in the United States. For some women, the decision to have a hysterectomy is an easy one; for others, it is a difficult choice associated with concerns about risks, discomfort, and female identity. Yet many disorders of the uterus―fibroid tumors, uterine and cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine prolapse―may require surgical treatment.

In this thoroughly updated edition of Hysterectomy: Exploring Your Options, gynecologists Edward E. Wallach, Esther Eisenberg, Isabel Green, and Stacey A. Scheib describe and explain every aspect of the procedure, including
Symptoms of gynecological disorders that may require uterine fibroid removal or hysterectomy
The full range of diagnostic and therapeutic imaging techniques, including MRI-focused ultrasound
Thorough explanations of specific alternative measures that may be used to avoid the need for hysterectomy
The various techniques for hysterectomy, including single-incision surgery and robotic hysterectomy
How to prepare for surgery and what to expect while in the hospital
Details on the surgery and postoperative recovery, including information about pain medications, when to resume daily activities, how sexual function may be affected, future reproductive possibilities, and the benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy

Included in this compassionate, comprehensive guide to treatment and recovery for women having―or deciding whether to have―a hysterectomy are stories of women whose own experiences with hysterectomy offer useful advice for anyone considering the procedure.