Goodbye uterus: Life after a hysterectomy
4/20/202627 min
The uterus is central to womanhood: it's the baby house, and allows for menstruation. So, what's it like to have it removed?
Each year around 30,000 Australian women have a hysterectomy — to relieve pain, to treat cancer, or as part of gender affirming care.
The path to surgery isn't always straightforward or quick. It can involve years of heartache, confusion and BS from specialists. But for most women, a hysterectomy is a game changer, bringing lasting relief and restoring quality of life.
Yumi Stynes speaks to women who've a had hysterectomy and finds out what led to their decision and what life is like on the other side.
Plus, gynaecologist and endometriosis specialist Dr Pav Nanayakkara explains the reasons we might need to get a hysterectomy, how to navigate the side effects of having your reproductive organs removed and whether we can still achieve the big O post-surgery.
Helpful resources:
This episode will answer questions like:
- What is a hysterectomy?
- Why do people get a hysterectomy?
- What are the different types of hysterectomy?
- What happens after a hysterectomy?
- Do I need my uterus?
- Will a hysterectomy cure my adenomyosis pain?
- Will a hysterectomy cure my endometriosis?
- Did Lena Dunham get a hysterectomy?
What to listen to next:
"Where the hell is my husband?" Women who've never had a partner — ABC listen
Will we ever have a cure for endometriosis? — ABC listen
The new way to date — ABC listen
Family Feuds: Is estrangement the new normal? — ABC listen
You can binge more episodes of Ladies, We Need to Talk on the ABC listen app (in Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts.
What to read next:
Why Kate chose to 'stay flat' after breast cancer surgery — ABC News
Why these women have never had a partner — ABC News
This episode contains references to hysterectomies, hysterectomy, uterus, medical misogyny, surgery, ovaries, gender affirming care, relationships, orgasms.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsDominique Beyens· Soundbite0:00
It's one of Australia's most baffling unsolved missing persons cases. In 2007, four people, including a five-year-old girl, vanished in Western Australia amid rumors of bizarre behavior, cults, and long-hidden secrets.
Speaker 10:17
Yep, yep, 'cause we're trying to track them down.
Dominique Beyens· Soundbite0:19
I'm Dominique Beyens, and I've been investigating for the new season of Expanse: The Nan Up Four. Search Expanse on ABC Listen or wherever you get your podcasts.
Yumi Stynes· Host0:29
[gentle music] ABC Listen: podcasts, radio, news, music, and more.
Amanda· Guest0:36
[gentle music] My uterus actually has caused me issues all my life.
Belle· Guest0:42
You can't live like this. You can't keep going like this. Why don't you consider a hysterectomy?
Speaker 10:49
Every patient has the right to choose what happens to their body.
Belle· Guest0:53
There was so much angst and so many tears leading up to it of, is this the right thing to do?
Speaker 11:01
[gentle music] [spooky music] Come quick, for she has been thus all day and all night, groaning and swooning, clawing at her belly, she doth fight. Relieve the pain or prepare the tomb, for she's vexed by the mischief of the wandering womb.
Yumi Stynes· Host1:19
[thunder] [laughs] [gentle music] The myth of the wandering womb was brought to us from