Advice/Thoughts On Serious Surgery?

[bridiee]

Hello Ladies,

I've been thinking of the future, and something serious has reared it's ugly head in the process. I've started my family and have two little ones, but I know I'll go as far as 8 kids (if I and hubby can handle it)!

I've already made the BIG decision to not breast feed (please don't give me a lecture on this, I'm well aware of all the facts, but I've thought long and hard about it and my two boys have done fine without it). But now I have to make another decision.

Is it a good idea or a ridiculous idea to, after I've finished my family, have my ovaries and womb removed? I feel that, since I would have finished having children, I needn't continue to go through periods, cramps and other such nonsense! My husband thinks it may be a good idea because of this, but he also says that he'll stand by me whatever decision I make.

Of course, this is a huge decision and would mean some serious surgery, so I need some advice. Any ladies out there who have had their womb/ovaries removed? What was the experience like? How was the recovery? Do you regret it? Has it affected your life majorly? Does it make you feel like less of a woman because they're gone? That is my biggest fear of all.

[Matildathecat]

You know you can't just go to a surgeon and ask for major surgery to remove your reproductive organs just because you've finished with them.

Since you have plans for such a large family I'm guessing you won't need to think about this seriously for quite some time.

[Pannalash]

A bit drastic, isn't it? Major surgery with all it's associated risks - you may not have 'periods, cramps and other such nonsense', but by golly you'd be straight into a surgically induced menopause overnight with all the associated problems that can go with it, which is no fun believe me.

[Molotov]

Everything about your post makes me go , to be quite honest.

I don't know where to start, so will just give my honest advice:

Probably better to be sure that you have completed your family, then consider your options for sterilisation, which are usually vasectomy for your dp/dh, or, tubal ligation for you.

I know two women who have had a total hysterectomy and neither advocate it. A partial hysterectomy involves removal of the uterus, but leaves the ovaries for natural hormone production.

I don't know why you are thinking about this now though, if you're in #2 of potentially 8 dcs ...

[Molotov]

And, why did you feel it necessary to post about your preference re. bottle feeding? How and why is that relevant?