Nexus - 0406 - New Times Magazine-pages

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¢ Adhesions: These are internal scars that develop when tissue —_ per cent of women suffer from depression, but other researchers surfaces stick together after surgery. As a general rule, because estimate the percentage to be as high as 70 per cent. For some it blood contains a sticky component that causes tissues to adhere, is minor and shortlived, while for others it becomes a chronic any type of bleeding can lead to adhesions. During surgery, adhe- state. Other psychological disturbances include mood change, sions present a risk of injury to a structure that is stuck to the anxiety and irritability. While there is no doubt that feelings of organ being removed. With hysterectomy, the organs most likely grief can be brought on from a woman's sense of loss of her to be adhered to the uterus are the bladder and bowel. There is womb and the accompanying mourning process, there are also always the danger that new adhesions will develop as a result of biochemical reasons for this depression. surgery. This is most likely to happen when the surgeon does not The hormonal disruptions brought on by the surgery can be far- find and suture all bleeding surfaces. These new adhesions could reaching, affecting the nerve and hormone (neuroendocrine) inter- complicate any future surgery and/or lead to an intestinal obstruc- actions responsible for the sense of emotional well-being. tion years after surgery. Hormonal disruption affects substances called "beta endorphins" ¢ Bowel Injury: If the bowel is accidentally cut, clamped or which are associated with feelings of well-being. Recent research sutured in the course of surgery, the intestinal contents can spill shows that endorphin levels are influenced by a change in levels into the abdominal cavity, causing infection of the peritoneum, of the ovarian hormones oestrogen and progesterone. A study at the transparent, cellophane-like sac that surrounds the abdominal Columbia University showed that oestrogen acts to stimulate organs. The infection peritonitis can be quite serious and even release of endorphins from the hypothalamus. This may explain fatal if not checked. More than twice as many hysterectomised as why depression develops when the ovaries are removed or if they non-hysterectomised women have problems not only with bowel cease to function after menopause.” function (chronic constipation) but with urinary frequency. Another troubling problem still to be accounted for is an ¢ Bladder Injury: A bladder injury is easily corrected during increased risk of heart disease after hysterectomy. The risk of the operation if the surgeon recognises that the bladder has been heart disease is greatest when the ovaries are also removed. In cut. If not, there will be a risk of peri- addition, some data indicate that tonitis. If the injury results in a fistula women who have their ovaries (opening) between the bladder and removed have higher rates of osteo- vagina, urine will leak uncontrollably The medical profession continues porosis, even when taking hormone into the vagina. Bladder repair must therapy." be performed surgically. to reassure women that their Since the uterus is the key pelvic «Injury to Ureter: The ureter is uteruses are disposable organs organ holding other organs in place the tube connecting the kidney to the . ~ in the pelvic cavity, with its removal bladder. Located next to the cervix, it that they can quite happily there is a tendency for the bowel and can be damaged easily. If the ureter is live without. bladder to prolapse into the open nicked, sewn or kinked during cavity, leading to an eventual pro- surgery, the outflow of urine from the lapse into the vagina. It is also kidney to the bladder will be blocked, reported that after surgery the hip leading to possible kidney damage. bones tend to widen, causing prob- Corrective surgery will then be needed. lems in the entire pelvic area as well as in the back, legs and feet. ¢ Postoperative Bleeding: Such bleeding usually stems from a surgeon's failure to secure the major artery, which may lead to IMPORTANCE OF THE UTERUS haemorrhaging that could be fatal. Surgery will be needed to The medical profession continues to reassure women that their secure the artery. Oozing blood causes adhesions to form. uteruses are disposable organs that they can quite happily live ¢ Infection and Fever: With vaginal hysterectomy there is a without. In fact, the uterus-free woman is depicted as a carefree higher risk of vaginal infection because of exposure to bacteria. individual released from the drudgery of uncomfortable and debil- famal shlame A anhliol wn tha uteruses are disposable organs that they can quite happily live without. IMPORTANCE OF THE UTERUS The medical profession continues to reassure women that their uteruses are disposable organs that they can quite happily live without. In fact, the uterus-free woman is depicted as a carefree individual released from the drudgery of uncomfortable and debil- itating female problems. An editorial published in the prestigious British medical journal Lancet (15 August 1987) has no doubt played an important part in lulling doctors and women into such a false sense of security about hysterectomy when it stated: ..for the woman who is not interested in having children, or whose family is complete, this solution [hysterectomy] is often attractive... [It promises] relief from her symptoms and other expected benefits—greater reliability at work, availability at all times for sexual intercourse, saving on sanitary protection, free- dom from pregnancy and freedom from uterine cancer.""* To appreciate just how ludicrous such statements are, it is nec- essary to have some basic understanding of the female reproduc- tive system. The uterus, or the womb as it is also known, is a muscular organ designed for childbearing. Far from being a dis- posable organ that serves no further purpose when the childbear- ing days are over, the uterus is the main site for the production of the hormone prostacyclin which protects women from heart dis- ease and unwanted blood-clotting. Since prostacyclin cannot be synthetically manufactured in a laboratory, the removal of the uterus will ensure its production will cease forever." POST-HYSTERECTOMY SYNDROME The after-effects of hysterectomy are most dramatic. With the removal of the ovaries, surgical menopause is initiated, causing more severe symptoms. In a relatively short period of time, a woman may experience fatigue, insomnia, urinary problems, headaches, dizziness, vertigo, nervousness, irritability, anxiety, heart palpitations, joint pain, weight gain, vaginal dryness, dimin- ished physical strength, difficult or painful sexual intercourse, hair loss and a variety of skin problems. British researcher D. H. Roberts, M.D., examined the after- effects of hysterectomy. He found that hysterectomy was much more likely to lead to postoperative physical and psychological problems described as "post-hysterectomy syndrome". These symptoms included depression, hot flushes, urinary problems and extreme postoperative fatigue. One or more of these symptoms was found among 70 per cent of the patients participating in his study, which was published in the Lancet in 1971. The incidence of post-hysterectomy depression appears to be relatively widespread. Dr Susan Love states that some 30 to 50 NEXUS - 31 to reassure women that their OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1997