Mrs. Kaur suffers from deep, painful cramps in her pelvic region whenever she is ovulating. The pain is almost unbearable when she gets her periods. So much so that this is hampering her sex life with her partner.

Does this instance sound familiar to you? The condition that Mrs. Kaur is suffering from is a common scenario amongst women in the country. To treat this, doctors often suggest a uterus removal or hysterectomy.

A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus. It can also involve the removal of the cervix, fallopian tubes and other reproductive organs. Can you believe that 22,000 Indian women between 15-49 years of age have undergone a hysterectomy in 2018?

Why do I have painful cramps when I am not in my periods?

Why does Mrs. Kaur suffer from such pain when she is or not on her periods? Doctors prescribe a hysterectomy when women are diagnosed with any of the following medical conditions.

Endometriosis- In this condition, the uterine tissue which is similar to the uterine lining grows on other parts of the body. The most visible symptom of endometriosis is pelvic pain. Other symptoms of endometriosis are-

• pain during sex
• pain with ovulation
• fatigue
• painful cramps
• frequent urination
• low back pain
• painful bowel movements
• constipation or diarrhea

Blocked fallopian tubes

 Another reason for uterus removal in women could be blocked fallopian tubes. Medically, blocked fallopian tubes are called tubal occlusion.  The blocked fallopian tube does not allow the passage for sperm to get to the eggs, as well as the path back to the uterus for the fertilized egg. Some of the reasons for blocked fallopian tubes include scar tissue, infection, and pelvic adhesions.

Fibroids

Fibroids are non- cancerous tumors that develop on the inner lining of the uterus. Generally, fibroids are not cancerous and very few of them are malignant. Although there most don’t show any symptoms some of them are lower backache, constipation, excessive or painful uterine bleeding to anemia. These can cause pain or heavy bleeding. Laparoscopy is recommended by gynecologists to remove them. Fibroids make it harder for the fertilized egg to attach itself to the lining of the womb as a submucosal fibroid changes the shape of the womb, making conception difficult.

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

This is defined as a disorder caused by hormonal changes.  This is a disorder that is common among women of reproductive age. Women suffering from PCOS tend to have irregular or prolonged menstrual periods or male hormone (androgen) levels are high in them. The ovaries develop several small collections of fluid known as follicles and fail to release eggs regularly. Similarly, polycystic ovary disorder (PCOD) is another hormonal disorder that occurs in women of reproductive age.

Adenomyosis

Similar to endometriosis, in adenomyosis, the lining of the uterus grows into uterine muscles. The uterine wall becomes thick and leads to painful and heavy bleeding. At first, doctors prescribe hormone therapies and pain medication but in severe cases, hysterectomy is the only option.

Uterine Prolapse

The slipping out of the uterus from its normal place and falling into the vagina is known as uterine prolapse. This condition is more likely to develop in women who’ve had multiple vaginal births. Some of the common symptoms include pelvic pressure, urinary issues or bowel problems. In such cases, doctors recommend the removal of the uterus.

To know the exact reason for extreme pain during menstruation or cause for excessive bleeding, consult with a gynecologist as soon as possible.

What should I do after the diagnosis?

Out of all the advanced surgeries, doctors recommend patients for laparoscopic hysterectomy. This surgery is performed using a tube with a lighted camera, known as a  laparoscope which is inserted through several small cuts made in the belly. In the case of a single site laparoscopic procedure, one small cut is made in the belly button. The surgeon controls the equipment from outside the body by viewing the operation on a video screen.

What are the risks involved in a hysterectomy?

But several complications may arise if you opt for the surgery. Some of the possible complications after the surgery are-

• Damage to the urinary bladder, rectum, or other surrounding organs
• Blood clots in the legs or lungs
• Infection in the wound
• Heavy bleeding during menstruation
• Breathing or heart complications from anesthesia
• Blockage of the bowel
• Blood clots
• Trouble during urination

Is there any way to reduce side-effects after the hysterectomy?

After the laparoscopic procedure, it is common if you feel pain in the shoulder or lower back. This is due to the gas used to inflate the abdomen. For a steady and faster recovery, doctors provide their patients with a set of instructions so that they can resume their daily activities as soon as possible. Some of them are mentioned below-

• After treatment, wounds need to be taken care of. Hence, keeping a pillow or sweater between the car seat-belt and the abdomen helps to reduce pressure on wounds.
• Sometimes after laparoscopic surgery, you may feel nauseated. It is recommended to carry a bag or bowl whenever you are traveling.
• Drinking peppermint tea helps to relieve gas pain that is caused due to the trapped carbon-dioxide which was inserted.
• Consume broths or soups for a day or two. Then patients slowly shift towards the consumption of high-fiber foods such as pears, bananas, carrots, red or white kidney beans, whole-wheat pasta or bread is advised. Green, leafy vegetables that are filled with antioxidants should be incorporated in the diet plan. This allows smoother bowel movements and lowers the chances of constipation.
• Drink 1.5 – 2 liters of water daily aids in eliminating traces of anesthesia as well as prevent constipation
• Avoid trans and saturated fats like fats found in butter, margarine, salad dressing, fried foods, snack foods or sweets. Instead of regular oil, prepare food in vegetable oils such as olive oil or peanut oil which are good fats.

After laparoscopic surgery especially for endometriosis, the pain of the first period can be excruciating. The reason being that the healing is not complete within the time of the next cycle and the reproductive organs are still tender. See your gynecologist immediately if the pain is intolerable.

About The Author:

This Article provided by Rahul Yadav, working as an SEO analyst at Pristyn care. He is always willing to learn new digital marketing tools and technology. Rahul has proven track record content marketing. He knows how to optimize these tools for marketing purpose. The guy avid drinker of red wine; self-proclaimed steak expert; all-around cool guy.