Hysterectomy

by Wallach, Edward E.; Eisenberg, Esther

• ISBN13: 9780801876233
• ISBN10: 0801876230
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-09-12
• Publisher: Johns Hopkins Univ Pr

Summary

Hysterectomy is the second most common major surgical procedure performed on women in the United States. Because of new nonsurgical treatments and the rising opposition to the procedure from women's and patients' groups, hysterectomies are performed less frequently than in the past, but many disorders of the uterus -- fibroid tumors, uterine and cervical cancer, pelvic inflammatory disease, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and uterine prolapse -- still may require surgical treatment. 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. In Hysterectomy: Exploring Your Options, experienced gynecologists Edward Wallach and Esther Eisenberg provide complete and up-to-date information about every aspect of the procedure. Written with compassion for all women, this indispensable guide explains the anatomy of the uterus, describes the symptoms of gynecological disorders that may require hysterectomy, discusses the full range of diagnostic tests and treatments, provides details of the surgery itself and postoperative recovery, includes details about other approaches to treatment, and examines long-term consequences involving sexual and reproductive issues as well as hormone replacement therapy. Also included is useful advice about how to talk with your doctor and case studies illustrating the real-life experiences of a variety of women. In Hysterectomy: Exploring Your Options, women will find the information they need to work with their physicians to make informed decisions about their health care.

Author Biography

Edward E. Wallach, M.D., is the J. Donald Woodruff Professor of Gynecology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Esther Eisenberg, M.D., M.P.H., is a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

Table of Contents

Preface: Who We Are and Why We Wrote This Book	vii
Acknowledgments	xi
INTRODUCTION: What Is Hysterectomy and What Is the Debate?	1	(12)
Part I ABOUT THE FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS
1 Anatomy of the Uterus	13	(10)
2 Looking at the Uterus: Imaging and Diagnosis	23	(24)
Part II WHAT CAN GO WRONG?
3 Uterine Fibroids	47	(14)
4 Endometriosis	61	(9)
5 Uterine Prolapse and Related Problems	70	(8)
6 Abnormal Uterine Bleeding	78	(16)
7 Pelvic Pain, Infection, and Adhesions	94	(9)
8 Cancer	103	(24)
Part III SURGERY
9 What You Need to Know to Prepare for a Hysterectomy	127	(15)
10 What Happens in the Hospital	142	(13)
11 What Kind of Hysterectomy Should You Have?	155	(20)
Part IV AFTER HYSTERECTOMY
12 Sexual and Reproductive Issues	175	(6)
13 Hormone Replacement Therapy	181	(10)
Conclusion	191	(2)
Index	193