One of the most wonderful things about being a woman is the ability to conceive a child. This ability does, however, come with all sorts of unpleasant complications. This is particularly true for women who suffer from painful, heavy periods. There are, however, many medical and surgical treatments for the underlying conditions that cause this often debilitating symptom. For those who have not responded well to medications and other therapies, a partial or full hysterectomy can often alleviate pelvic pain, but this surgery is not appropriate for everyone. Below are some of the conditions that it can treat successfully.
Uterine Fibroids
Fibroids are benign tumors that grow either around or directly in a woman’s uterus. They can cause the need for frequent urination and pain during intercourse in addition to heavy menstrual bleeding.
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
Also known as PID, this painful bacterial infection often makes surgical intervention a necessity. Failing to treat it can lead to permanent damage to several parts of the female reproductive tract and leave the patient in substantial pain.
Adenomyosis and Endometriosis
These conditions affecting the tissues lining the inside and outside of the uterus respectively can cause a woman’s periods to become an agony. They can also cause backaches, discomfort during intercourse, and breakthrough bleeding.
Uterine Prolapse
Often caused by childbirth, the weakening of supportive tissues around the uterus can lead to its displacement into a woman’s vagina. This serious condition can lead to weakened bladder control, back aches, and severe discomfort during all parts of the cycle. Women suffering from uterine prolapse often require surgery to prevent it from seriously impacting their quality of life.
Uterine, Ovarian, or Cervix Cancer
Surgery is almost universally necessary in treating cancers of the female reproductive system.
Many of these and the myriad other conditions that can also lead to heavy menstrual bleeding can sometimes be treated effectively with medication or hormone therapy. All surgeries come with their risks as well as their benefits. No treatment, whether medical or surgical, is going to provide a miracle cure, but hysterectomies are effective at removing pain and restoring quality of life for many women. Only a gynecologist or other specializing medical professional can determine whether a patient is a good candidate for surgical intervention.