Should I Get a Hysterectomy? Why I Decided on Surgery

Surgery room prepared for hysterectomy

What This Post Covers

In this post, I share my personal journey with deciding whether to have a hysterectomy, including:

* The symptoms and challenges I lived with before surgery

* How long I tried to manage symptoms without surgery

* Emotional struggles and body image fears that came up

* Alternatives to surgery I considered

* How I ultimately decided surgery was right for me

* Reassurance for anyone still weighing this choice

If you’re thinking, “Should I get a hysterectomy?” or wondering “What is recovery really like?”, this post is meant to give context, support, and perspective.

I Didn’t Want Surgery… I Wanted My Life Back

I struggled with the decision on whether or not to have a full hysterectomy for several years. I actively avoided it, even knowing I had a large fibroid growing in my belly. Unfortunately, over time, my symptoms worsened and began to affect how I was living my life. After a lot of soul-searching, I decided to proceed with surgery to improve my quality of life.

Had my symptoms not worsened, I would have kept living with the enlarging belly. The choice to have surgery is very personal. Oftentimes, there is no “right” or “wrong” answer.

If you are going through this thought process, know that I’m sorry for the struggle. Feeling fear, sadness, and doubt is normal — and doesn’t mean you are weak or making the wrong choice.

The Symptoms I Lived With (And How I Minimized Them)

While it feels deeply personal to share health symptoms, I think it’s important for women to know what others go through. Friends and family may not discuss these issues, but they’re more common than many realize.

• Chronic Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS)

  • essentially varicose veins in the pelvis, which increases blood flow

• Pain and heaviness in the uterus

• Low back pain

• Heavy, 3-week long periods

  • bleeding through overnight pads within 2–3 hours

• Lesions on the liver

  • likely from long-term hormone therapy to manage periods

• Giant fibroid tumors compressing bowels and bladder

  • constipation, frequent restroom trips, low back pain

• Strong hormone swings

  • impacted mood and triggered vestibular migraines

How Long I Tried to “Manage” Instead of Decide

I lived with PCS for about 15 years. When my periods lasted three weeks, my gynecologist put me on continuous hormone pills to stop them. Ultrasounds and eventually an MRI revealed “large fibroids.”

Because of a prior prolapse and fear of symptoms returning, I initially avoided discussing surgery. I chose to live with long, painful periods and a growing abdomen. At the time, avoiding surgery felt safer than risking further prolapse issues.

About 1.5 years after the initial fibroid diagnosis, tumors were discovered on my liver during a CT for an unrelated issue. I reviewed the images myself and saw just how large the fibroids had grown. Constipation worsened, bladder pressure increased, and my body started feeling the impact in everyday life.

After years of painful periods, hormone swings, and worsening bladder and bowel issues, I decided to move forward with surgery.

The Mental Tug-of-War: Is This Bad Enough?

Even though I have healthy children and wasn’t planning more, the fear of worsening prolapse was terrifying.

Body image wasn’t the main factor, but there was no way to ensure the tumors weren’t cancerous without surgery and pathology.

I’m an active parent with a busy household, so I also had to weigh recovery time: eight weeks off work, rearranging family schedules, and months to fully heal. But if this was cancer, would I be able to help my family if I didn’t act?

Ultimately, it was the worsening symptoms and fear of missing out on life with my kids that pushed me toward surgery. It was a tear-filled, difficult decision — one my surgeon agreed was worth it for quality of life.

When Treatment Fatigue Set In

Deciding on surgery wasn’t a failure. Fibroids grow for reasons no one fully understands. Some ovaries grow to unexpected sizes, even in otherwise healthy people.

I cried - not over the loss of my uterus, but because I had done everything “right”: whole foods, protein and fiber, minimal sugar, pelvic floor yoga, hiking, and weight lifting. Deciding on treatment took months, and it was exhausting after years of living with symptoms.

Body Image Fears I Had Before Surgery

I’ve always prioritized health over appearance. But as surgery became real, I had questions:

* How would scars look?

* Would I feel comfortable in a swimsuit?

* How long would swelling last?

* Would I recognize my figure a year after surgery?

It turns out I wasn’t as indifferent to my appearance as I thought. These feelings are normal. I encourage anyone considering hysterectomy or pelvic mass removal to make a list of concerns and talk them through with your surgeon.

Worrying About Regret — and What Helped Me Reframe It

Surgery felt unknown and scary. I knew if my prolapse returned, I might feel devastated. But the risk of cancer and worsening symptoms outweighed that fear.

Framing the choice as a way to stay active and be present for my kids made it feel worth the risk.

Alternatives to Surgery

If you want to avoid surgery, there are options:

• Hormonal birth control

  • can manage long or heavy periods

• Fibroid-shrinking medications

  • sometimes make minimally invasive surgery possible

• Non-surgical procedures

  • Uterine Fibroid Embolization (UFE), ultrasound, or radio frequency treatments

For some women, these alternatives work well. For me, the size and growth of my fibroids made surgery the best option.

Why Surgery Was Right for Me — Not a Universal Answer

Many women live with fibroids or pelvic masses without surgery and enjoy active, healthy lives. In my case, the benefits outweighed the risks.

My surgeon initially recommended waiting, but worsening symptoms and rapid growth made surgery the better choice. My life wasn’t at immediate risk, but surgery offered relief from pain, better mobility, and a chance to live more fully.

If You’re Still Deciding: It’s Okay to Pause or Proceed

The decision to have a hysterectomy is deeply personal. There is no universal “right answer.”

• It’s okay to seek multiple opinions

• It’s okay to take time to make your decision

• It’s normal to feel nervous, scared, or emotional

The goal is the same: more comfort, more energy, and more peace of mind in your body and life. Whatever path you take, you are not alone — your choice is valid.