Hysterectomy Alternatives
One of the reasons health insurance companies are cracking down on insurance claims for a hysterectomy is because they believe patients should try other means of treatment before they jump into the hysterectomy procedure. However, there are few alternatives for the hysterectomy and if you find a hysterectomy alternative, likely you will still need to have a total abdominal hysterectomy or another form of a hysterectomy later.
It’s funny, but many times a hysterectomy is considered an elective surgery by insurance companies. However, if it is an elective surgery, then why is it so many people have this surgery and more specifically, why would a woman want to put her body under the knife unless she really needed it?
In years past, perhaps it was. Today, women don’t have time to have the surgery unless it is needed.
There are some alternatives to explore if you are told you need a hysterectomy. The following alternatives are for you to consider:
• Non-surgical procedure to support pelvic organs can be discussed with your doctor
• Endometrial ablation is something being used now with great success instead of a hysterectomy. Like the hysterectomy, if you’re lucky, you may never bleed again at best. In a worse case scenario, bleeding will be minimal
• Hysteroscopy
• Laparoscopy
• Uterine fibroid embolization
There are several non-surgical things a person can do to minimize their need for a hysterectomy. The patient can try dieting and exercise. If women use aspirin for pain relief then they should cut down on their aspirin intake and find another pain medication. Bleeding can be heavier for those who take aspirin therapy.
There are alternatives to hysterectomies but you need to research those on your own after talking with your doctor. The alternatives you have will depend on what your doctor thinks should be viable options for your condition.
May 26th, 2006 at 7:55 pm
If someone needs to have a Hysterectomy, and the doctors say that they need to have it, insurance companies shouldn’t be able to stand in their way. I dont understand how it could be “elective” when in most cases it is manditory.
July 25th, 2006 at 7:38 am
Leiomyoma commonly used term for the fibroids, which originate in the uterus. Fibroids are usually the benign smooth muscle tumors of the uterus. A fibroid tumor is another name for fibroma, a tumor of fibrous connective tissue.