Hysterectomy questions - Moral?

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TheBlindSpot

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Hello,

My wife has Uterine Fibroid Tumors and is considering ways to remove them. One doctor suggested the birth control pill, which my wife quickly declined. Another option appears to be laser removal, or a permanent resolution being a hysterectomy.

We are concerned about moral choices in this matter and would love some direction from anyone with experience in this area. Also note we are in our mid 30s currently. We have two children and are not currently planning for anymore, however, we want to remain in line with the Church’s teachings. If a hysterectomywould be an immoral choice in this matter, then we would remove it from “the table”.

Look forward to your feedback.

Thanks
 
I’m interested in the answer to this as well but I’ve already had the surgery. I also have two kids and desire no more. I had the surgery very recently to solve prolapse.
 
Each of her treatment options are morally acceptable. I am sorry for her health problems. I hope she and her doctor are able to decide on the best treatment soon and that she can get some relief. God bless.
 
My mother got rid of her fibroid tumors on a vegan/non-inflammatory diet. I would suggest guidance if something like that would appeal to you. She avoids caffeine always, but did the vegan thing for a few years.

Each person and each situation is unique. Prayers.
 
Both birth control and a hysterectomy are licit if used as solutions for true medical problems only. Fibroids are certainly a medical problem.

If you use these things to solve the medical problem and the unintended side effect is infertility, that is licit and far different than using either simply to avoid children. The key is to evaluate the reasoning behind whatever you use.
 
If God wants her to have more children, He’ll find a way to reverse the Hysterectomy. I’ve heard of that happening.
 
TheBlindSpot said:
Hello,

My wife has Uterine Fibroid Tumors and is considering ways to remove them. One doctor suggested the birth control pill, which my wife quickly declined. Another option appears to be laser removal, or a permanent resolution being a hysterectomy.

We are concerned about moral choices in this matter and would love some direction from anyone with experience in this area. Also note we are in our mid 30s currently. We have two children and are not currently planning for anymore, however, we want to remain in line with the Church’s teachings. If a hysterectomywould be an immoral choice in this matter, then we would remove it from “the table”.

Look forward to your feedback.

Thanks
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You could consult your priest about this. But as a person who had to wait years for this surgery due to misdiagnosis, I can only say if there is medical reason to have a hysterectomy there is nothing immoral in going ahead with the surgery. I would be very concerned about cancer down the road.

In my case nine fibroids became the size of grapefruits and one was the size of a “regulation football.” I looked like I was 10 months pregnant, and by the time they figured out what was wrong I was so sick and weak that it took 6 months to recover. My mother took the route of having the growths removed, and they came back again and again and again. Finally, at the age of 35 she had a hysterectomy and like myself was very ill. They cause a constant drain on one’s health and in many cases cause a lot of cramping and excess bleeding.

It is your wife’s choice of course, but based on my experience I would want the hysterectomy, and since it is a health issue I see no moral question here.
 
It’s my understanding that a woman may take birth control pills if the intent is to treat a condition such as this and not to prevent pregnancy. I may be wrong, but this is what I’ve heard.
 
k5rakitan said:
If God wants her to have more children, He’ll find a way to reverse the Hysterectomy. I’ve heard of that happening.
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You’re saying that God might grow a new uterus in a woman who has had a hysterectomy? I don’t think so!
 
k5rakitan said:
If God wants her to have more children, He’ll find a way to reverse the Hysterectomy. I’ve heard of that happening.
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Do you have any evidence from medical journals, newspapers etc. to back this up?

Without evidence I can’t believe it, sorry. A hysterectomy can’t be reversed if it’s done properly, i.e. the womb is removed, that’s what the term means… It’s like saying an amputated arm can be grown back. I know there’s an operation called a partial hysterectomy, but the OP hasn’t used that term.

Sudden thought - are you perhaps confusing a hysterectomy with a vasectomy?
 
TheBlindSpot said:
My wife has Uterine Fibroid Tumors and is considering ways to remove them. One doctor suggested the birth control pill, which my wife quickly declined. Another option appears to be laser removal, or a permanent resolution being a hysterectomy.
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As others have noted, either the pill or a hysterectomy are morally licit as legitimate medical treatments.

I have to ask though - why dismiss the pill so quickly, but seriously consider a hysterectomy? The hysterectomy is an invasive surgery and results in permanent sterility, and depending on the type of hysterectomy, possibly ongoing issues too. The pill may adequately treat the condition, while preserving the possibility of future fertility as well as different treatment plans that may be kinder to your wife in the long term. Given that it was suggested by your doctor, I think it at least warrants consideration while you explore the implications of hysterectomy further.
 
I had a hysterectomey 11 years ago for medical reasons. Seeing as how I was single with one child, I didn’t see myself of ever having any more. It isn’t an easy way to go, if the ovaries are taken out as well, then there’s instant menopause. For awhile I was on HRT, but was dropped from it when they lost a mamogram. Actually, this was through the VA. They occasionally drop the ball on stuff. But, I’ll have to admit that they are getting better.
 
Boy_Wonder said:
It’s my understanding that a woman may take birth control pills if the intent is to treat a condition such as this and not to prevent pregnancy. I may be wrong, but this is what I’ve heard.
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I think you are correct. However, people seem to forget that birth control pills have very dangerous and lethal side effects for some women. I would never risk taking them myself. It is not worth having a blood clot, heart attack or stroke.
 
underacloud said:
As others have noted, either the pill or a hysterectomy are morally licit as legitimate medical treatments.

I have to ask though - why dismiss the pill so quickly, but seriously consider a hysterectomy? The hysterectomy is an invasive surgery and results in permanent sterility, and depending on the type of hysterectomy, possibly ongoing issues too. The pill may adequately treat the condition, while preserving the possibility of future fertility as well as different treatment plans that may be kinder to your wife in the long term. Given that it was suggested by your doctor, I think it at least warrants consideration while you explore the implications of hysterectomy further.
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Birth control pills are just too dangerous in my book. Heart attacks, blood clots and strokes. I would rather have the hysterectomy and get rid of the growths that way. If there is any cancer history (uterine) in the family this is an even greater reason for surgery versus pills. People dismiss the drain fibroids can cause on a woman. They are just plain miserable to put up with, can lead to excessive bleeding, anemia and general fatigue.
 
One of the licit options is to try the birth control pills, see if they do the job without major side effects, and then if they don’t work, do the hysterectomy. That would potentially keep your childbearing options open longer.

If she’s had previous bad results with birth control pills, then of course forget that option.

Of course, going into menopause early isn’t a picnic, either.

You might want to ask the doctor, in my shoes, which would you choose?
 
Cricket2 said:
Birth control pills are just too dangerous in my book. Heart attacks, blood clots and strokes. I would rather have the hysterectomy and get rid of the growths that way. If there is any cancer history (uterine) in the family this is an even greater reason for surgery versus pills. People dismiss the drain fibroids can cause on a woman. They are just plain miserable to put up with, can lead to excessive bleeding, anemia and general fatigue.
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Those are fair points and certainly should be considered in the treatement plan. Yes, a history of uterine cancer would weigh heavily in favour of hysterectomy. Conversely, hysterectomy carries its own risks, short term and long term. So I just wondered why they dismissed the pill so quickly, especially if the doctor had advised it.

Anyway, either option is morally licit, so the OP and his wife should rely on sound medical advise weighing the pros and cons of these or any other approaches.
 
Xantippe said:
One of the licit options is to try the birth control pills, see if they do the job without major side effects, and then if they don’t work, do the hysterectomy. That would potentially keep your childbearing options open longer.

If she’s had previous bad results with birth control pills, then of course forget that option.

Of course, going into menopause early isn’t a picnic, either.

You might want to ask the doctor, in my shoes, which would you choose?
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Just FYI - a hysterectomy removes the uterus - not the ovaries. A hysterectomy doesn’t send you into surgical menopause. It is the removal of the ovaries that do that.
 
When I had my hysterectomy, the ovaries were removed along with the uterus. So, surgical menopause. And going through that is no fun. But, the health problems i was having before that deemed it necessary.
 
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