The Essential Guide to Hysterectomy: Advice from a Gynecologist on Your Choices Before, During, and After Surgery

by Lauren F. Streicher

In clear, conversational language, Dr. Lauren Streicher discusses everything a woman needs to know to make informed choices about this often-controversial subject, including emotions and sex after surgery, hormone replacement, and much more.

Genres: Nonfiction, Health, Medical

481 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 15, 2004

Reviews

[ZB · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a vacuum, I couldn’t have asked for a better book to read before my hysterectomy (except for one glaring thing - more in a second). It was funny as hell, very detailed, empowering, and calming. I feel 50% less nervous about the procedure after finishing this, which is a feat. I am nervous all the time! Rarely can anything make me less nervous.

The glaring thing: While this was written in 2011, I’m still not sure that excuses how hetero cis this is. Trans people don’t exist in this world and queer people are, kind of hilariously, stuffed on one page in one paragraph labeled Special Circumstances (right before the cancer section). My hope is the author revises a future edition to fix this.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative. Accessible. Well organized. Depressing. (jk)

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really put me at ease and answered nearly all of my questions. Love the informal but informative tone of the author.

[Rebekah Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was hands-down very helpful, informative, up-to-date, and at some times funny. If you or someone you know is prepping for a hyst, this book is sure to make them and/or you feel more at ease.

It covers everything from fibroids and myomectomy to each type of hysterectomy (total, subtotal and radical) and all the different types of surgery from abdominal to robotic. This book helped me come to a peaceful place with my and my doctor’s decision.

Whether this read is because you have issues needing to be addressed or are having SRS or GRS it’s incredibly helpful. Not too clinical or boring.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderfully understandable, relatable, informative and appropriately entertaining!Organized well. Look for most current version.

[Jody · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book gave me such an amazing understanding of a Hysterectomy. I was able to decide what would be best for my situation and gave me great information to have a good conversation with my surgeon. I went to the surgeons office completely prepared, questions ready, and everything that was explained to me, I could follow along as this book explains everything in detail. The book also explains the entire process on how to prepare three months before surgery to 6 weeks (+) after and took away all fears, anxieties, questions I had for the entire process. The book goes into detail of what to expect while in hospital and home care afterwards, how to pack, what to prepare, there is not much that is not covered. If I could rate this book higher I would.

Many thanks to the author for putting all this information together in a way that non-medical persons can understand and all the details on how to prepare both physically and mentally, there is even a section to help partners with this process. The book is US information, however I still found great value residing in a country outside the US.

[M.G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

"My decision to originally write this book also stemmed from the fact that there were no books or websites on the subject that I could comfortably recommend. That is still the case. My patients often find that information directed to the general public is overly simplistic and frequently turn to technical, hard-to-understand medical books for more in-depth information. With this book, I have sought to bridge that gap by presenting thorough, up-to-date medical knowledge in an accessible, conversational way, and the success of the first edition is a testimony to that endeavor." —Preface

Although I can't say I have extensive knowledge about what kind of gynecological surgery information is available in print or online for patients, I agree that this book tackles a lot of information in a way that is accessible to most people. Dr. Lauren Streicher uses her knowledge and experience as a gynecologist to know exactly what kinds of questions, concerns, statistics, and anxieties to address in this book. She covers a lot, and she does it in a way that is indeed conversational, and, shockingly, occasionally humorous.

[Chris Bakholdin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish I started this book a few months ago when I was told I needed a hysterectomy. Even today post surgery, I found so many parts of this book beneficial.
Thank you to the author for writing it and answering all the questions I had and the ones I never thought to ask. Thank you also for putting in quotes from the women who have gone thru this surgery. Your brave stories have helped me get thru this surgery with better understanding and less stress.
I think that every women who is diagnosed with needing a hysterectomy, should be handed this book to read from the start. I wish that happened to me.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read many parts of this book, but I avoided others for my own sake. It's very informative and I like how the author placed things in order. I also enjoyed the short and detailed pointers rather than reading an overload of information. I highly recommend it if you're about to have this surgery, or if you have concerns about gynecological conditions. It covers everything from why one would have this surgery, the ways to have this surgery, the surgery itself, and how to heal. It even adds information of what to look out for during the healing process.

[Adrienne Liss-'s-Gravemade · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone who is facing this surgery or is debating it’s an option in their lives. It goes through everything that pops up into your mind that you have questions about and explains everything in simple wording. It also includes real patients and their experiences, the good and the bad. Overall it puts my anxiety more at ease. It’s amazing what a body does and how it heals.

[Amal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got a couple of books to prepare for my hysterectomy and to be able to talk to my doctor comfortably about what was going on, what was going to happen, complications, and what the afterwards would / might look like.

And this book was *fantastic* for that.

It also had amazing information on the history of the procedure and all kinds of different reasons as to why it would need to be done / used.

[Bucket · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of great (if a bit outdated) information, across the entire process. Really helped to understand the jargon, the different treatment options, and what to expect in the aftermath.

I liked that it included testimonials, I did not like that the book literally ended on the husbands' opinions/thoughts on hysterectomy. Felt tone-deaf, and anticlimactic to not even have some closing words dedicated to the people going through the surgery.

[Sheridan Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

All you need to prep for your hysterectomy

Lots of useful advice that is communicated in a frank and often numerous manner. Dispels a lot of myths. I felt like I was getting a long consultation with a great doctor! Highly recommend if you are considering or about to have a hysterectomy.

[Lizzie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated but gave me an idea of what to expect in terms of surgery, meeting with doctors, and planning for recovery. For recovery I think it is important to know your health, your weight, and your mindset all play a part in your ability to bounce back from surgery.

[Lisa Kin · Rating 5 out of 5]

wish I would have found this years ago

A must read for all women.
A wealth of information that so often and unfortunately we do not get from our health care providers.
Easy to read, well organized.
I wish I would have found this years ago.

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this was updated, there was some out of date information. There were also issues with assuming that the doctor is male and the nurses are female which bothered me since the author is a female doctor.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thorough and thoroughly helpful in managing expectations, fears, and recovery.

[Daniel B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learned alot. A great place to start. It is from an American healthcare system. But the nuts and bolts are consist across.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

The information is easy to understand and broke down in very digestible sections. A lot of my questions were answered and I learned a lot of new information as well.

[Adrienna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a little excited to win this book to provide a free review. I wanted to understand some women issues that cause them to get a hysterectomy. This is a difficult topic to discuss, especially among women. Women who usually get this procedure done, feels "less than a woman" because they lost their operative organ that we view as "womb that brings forth life" and operating to procreate living organism.

Therefore, the author also a gynecologist, shows from a social, historical, psychological, and personal perspective on a medical surgical procedure. This is a delicate topic and many women want to be educated, informed, options, causes and reasons for their disorders that may lead to hysterectomy. I also wanted to learn more about certain female conditions I've noticed with my body aside from preventive resources to see what it could be diagnosed even though doctors or GYN were unhelpful in the past. I have done the procedures suggested or noted in the book, but still wonder where the pain comes from.

Surprisingly, there are about 1/3 American women who will lose their uterus. "potential to liberate women from pain, bleeding, and cancer" (page 3). I also learned about African American women are more likely to get fibroid in their thirties and forties (which is me), but no real answers for why women get endometriosis, cysts, or even fibroid including other pelvic pain issues.

There is medical jargon or terminology since it is written by a medical doctor. I highly recommend this for women with feminine issues and want answers. (My favorite portion was on the surgery and to be prepared; this was so beneficial and felt like I was there.) Streicher did include testimonies from a male's perspective too after their significant other did the procedure to gather some insight from a personal view.

I received a copy from the publisher to conduct a Library Thing Review.

Adrienna Turner
Author of "The Day Begins with Christ"
www.dream4more.org (Dream4More Reviews)

[Mom of Awesome · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am SO glad I found this book at work today! I have a hysterectomy scheduled in a week and I was going to go to my pre-op appointment tomorrow with no questions prepared. I just didn't think it was necessary, my doctor and I had already made the decisions, this was just a here's what to do the day of surgery type appointment. Now I've got a ton of questions to ask, and if whoever I meet with tomorrow doesn't have the answers, I'll be contacting my doctor as soon as possible to get those answers. I learned so much from this book. The only thing it doesn't offer is a checklist of questions to ask your provider, but there is so much great information that you end up finding questions to ask on your own.

Any question you may have about your surgery is answered in this book. It's informative from page one and has topics ranging from reasons to have a hysterectomy, the different kinds, what to have removed along with your uterus, hormone replacement therapy, etc. Did you know that having your ovaries removed causes menopause symptoms? I'm only 31 so that's good to know when making those big decisions. I highly recommend this book to anyone who may have a risk of needing this surgery. It's been incredibly helpful and again, I'm really happy I found it. I feel like I was going in blind before and now I have more control over the desired outcome.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was so glad to get this book at my local library for my November 2015 hysterectomy. It was the 2nd edition from 2013-- some info felt a bit dated, but that's to be expected with a medical book. The book is extremely well organized into sections and answers questions I didn't even know that I had. It reassured me that I was doing something that many women before me had done successfully. It's very specific on the before, during and after surgery sections and helps you make decisions for yourself, which is quite empowering. Many people would probably tell you that you can find this information online... and you probably can. I just love the convenience of an actual book and not having to search or deal with annoying pop up ads. If you want some online support from other ladies, check out HysterSisters http://www.hystersisters.com/

[Lacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for any woman that has to have a hysterectomy at any age and for any reason. It was very informative and written by a doctor of gynecology. The book covered everything from types of hysterectomies, types of surgeries, how to make the right choices for yourself, a step-by-step of surgery and what to expect, recovery, complications, and hormone replacement therapy. I feel a lot more informed and that in turn makes the process easier. I especially liked the information regarding the pros, cons, and risks of hormone replacement therapy. I highly recommend.

[Rena · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in two days. It was EXCELLENT and I highly recommended it to my OB/GYN staff to share with their patients. I really enjoyed the quick history lesson regarding hysterectomies. The author didn't have to add that in, but she did, and it set the pace for the rest of the amazing details she provided. It is written in an easy to understand, no nonsense, light sense of humor, no extra words kind of way. PERFECT!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone who is considering a hysterectomy should read this book! It's written by a woman doctor and she's very honest and easy to ready. Not scary, just factual and will help you know what to expect!

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a thorough and clear explanation of the hysterectomy process. The author provides a lot of helpful and practical details that will help women prepare for pre- and post-surgery. Highly recommended.

[Angela Grimpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read if you need a hysterectomy

I think this book provided me with so much info that when I saw my Dr there are few questions and she even said she would recommend it to other patients.

[Jojo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Helpful and practical.

[Lilith Darville · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative.

[Brenda Miles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Everything I needed to know.