The Importance of Preserving
the Uterus
Complications of hysterectomy—in all of
its forms (vaginal, abdominal, laparoscopic,
etc.)—are surprisingly high. A University
of California San Francisco study found
that women who have a hysterectomy
have a 60% higher risk of incontinence by
age 60. Other studies have demonstrated
hysterectomy (without ovary removal)
leads to a 2.5 times greater risk of coronary
artery disease, a 4.6 times greater risk of
congestive heart failure, an increased risk
of certain cancers and a host of other
quality-of-life issues. What’s more, these do
not even include the normal complications
associated with the hysterectomy surgical
procedure itself, which occur in 17-23%
of cases and can include infection, fever,
hemorrhage, bladder or bowel damage and
in rare cases, death.
There are other reasons why a woman may
not want to part with her uterus unless it
becomes absolutely necessary: While not
yet fully understood, the uterus plays an
important role in hormone management
and can even affect sexual function. Removal
of the uterus can result in earlier
menopause, even if the ovaries are not
removed during the procedure.
According to Leah Millheiser, M.D., director
of the Female Sexual Medicine program at
Stanford University Medical Center, the
female orgasm involves almost every part
of the reproductive system, including the
uterus. “In some women, the intensity of
the orgasm is connected to the uterus.”
Her assertion is confirmed by a clinical
study that found 10-20% of patients experienced
deteriorated sexual function after
hysterectomy.2
20 WomanToWomanMagazine.com
/WomanToWomanMagazine.com
