Shall I get hysterectomy for irregular and heavy periods?

Question

Hi doctor,

I am an athlete and my period is such a hassle. I just wish I could get rid of it. It is irregular and lasts for seven to eight days. I do not want to go on the pill, because emotionally my hormones have balanced out. I am worried that if I take any form of birth control, then it will mess that up. I have started considering a hysterectomy just to get rid of it, but I cannot really take time off from my training. I just do not know what to do. I am currently on Lexapro, Wellbutrin, Midodrine, Mestinon and Trazodone.

Answer 1

Hi,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

Hysterectomy is a kind of an extreme option considering it is permanent. I understand that you may be hassled by your periods, but removing your uterus before you have completed your family or without any pathology is not the way to go. You can take the oral contraceptive pills, which will both regularize your periods as well as decrease the duration of flow, the pain and the discomfort as well. If you have an event and you need to be not bleeding, then you can manage to postpone the periods with minimal disruption to your hormones. You can take a milder form of contraception, which will not give you the side effects like bloating or migraines. I would suggest Yasmin [estrogen (ethinyl estradiol) and a progestin (drospirenone)] or Yaz. It is mild and will keep your hormones in order. When you do wish to conceive you just need to stop the oral contraceptive pill. You can take it for six months on a cyclical basis as per the instructions on the back of the pack and give a break of a couple of months and then restart again with the consent of your specialist doctor. Please do not be frustrated. There are more conservative options than major surgery.