In the corner of an inconspicuous community, it is common to see a group of middle-aged and elderly women enthusiastically dancing in the square, their laughter and music intertwined, full of vitality of life.
But there's been one missing from the scene lately — she's a regular in the group of dance partners, who used to be smiling and enthusiastic, but now she's becoming less and less present.
People began to wonder where she had gone, had she moved, or was she sick?
1. Uterine prolapse: the beginning of a hidden danger to the pelvic floor in women
When it comes to uterine prolapse, many people may frown. It's not a very comfortable word, let alone a woman who has actually experienced it.
Uterine prolapse, simply put, means that the uterus has been tightly hung in the pelvis due to various reasons, such as having given birth to a child, getting older, and declining physical fitness, causing the uterus that was originally tightly hanging in the pelvis to begin to fall, and in severe cases, it will even fall out of the vagina.
Think about it, it's like something in your body is about to fall out at any moment, how frustrating.
No, the aunt who used to love dancing gradually quit the dance floor because of this illness. At first, she just felt a little heavy in her lower abdomen, and she had to go to the toilet after dancing for a while.
Later, even when I walked, I could feel the "little ball" dangling there. How embarrassed and embarrassed she was. She began to use various excuses to shirk and stop dancing with her dance partners, for fear that one day, the worst would happen in front of the public.
For women with uterine prolapse, the quality of life is greatly reduced, not only physical discomfort, but also huge psychological pressure.
They are afraid to do strenuous exercise, go to crowded places, or even talk about their illness with family and friends. This disease, like an invisible shackle, firmly locks their freedom.
2. The necessity of hysterectomy and surgical decisions
In the face of uterine prolapse, some women may choose conservative treatment, such as pelvic floor muscle exercises, hoping to make those "loose" muscles tighter and support the uterus.
But sometimes, things don't work out for the better. Just like the aunt, she eventually felt a lump protruding during her daily activities and had to go to the hospital for help. The advice given by doctors is often straightforward and brutal – hysterectomy.
"Excision", when I heard this word, the stalk in my heart was like being pinched hard.
The uterus, for women, is not just an organ, it carries the ability to reproduce and is a sign of female identity.
Even at an age when you don't plan to have children, the loss of this organ can still make people feel a sense of loss, even panic - as if overnight, they will become an "incomplete" woman.
However, surgery is often the last resort when the condition interferes with daily life and even brings more health risks.
Not everyone has the courage to make a decision at the first time, and many women will hesitate, be afraid, and worry about the possibilities after surgery.
The decision-making process of surgery is, for many women, a process of psychological struggle. They weigh in fear and struggle in hesitation.
But in the end, for the sake of health, in order to be able to get rid of the "ball" that reminds them of the existence of illness all the time, many women choose to step on the operating table bravely.
Just like that aunt, in the end, when the symptoms were unbearable, she underwent a hysterectomy.
3. Hysterectomy and the truth about female aging
The relationship between hysterectomy (hysterectomy) and female aging has been a controversial topic in the medical community.
There is a view that the uterus, as an important female reproductive organ, may have a series of chain reactions on the woman's endocrine system once it is removed, which will affect the overall health of the woman and even accelerate the aging process.
First, hysterectomy surgery is often accompanied by changes in ovarian function.
Although surgery usually does not remove the ovaries directly, the blood supply to the ovaries may be affected after the uterus is removed, which can lead to a decrease in the production of ovarian hormones, which are essential for maintaining a woman's bone density, skin elasticity, and cardiovascular health.
Studies have shown that women who have undergone hysterectomy have an increased incidence of osteoporosis after surgery, and the rate of skin aging may also increase.
Second, hysterectomy may have an impact on a woman's mental health.
The uterus is seen in many cultures as a symbol of female fertility, and when this organ is lost, some women may experience a crisis of identity and feel that they are no longer "whole", and this psychological stress can lead to chronic stress, which in turn can affect physical health, including accelerating the aging process.
4. Physiological changes: the new normal for women after hysterectomy
After a hysterectomy, a woman's body undergoes a series of physiological changes that often take time to adapt to and become their new normal.
First of all, the most immediate change is the cessation of menstruation. Because without a uterus, menstrual blood naturally has nowhere to drain, which can be a relief for women who have experienced long-term menstrual irregularities or pain.
But for other women, the cessation of menstruation may be accompanied by a certain sense of loss, as it marks the loss of their ability to have children.
In addition to stopping menstruation, women after hysterectomy surgery may also experience changes in hormone levels, especially if the ovaries are also removed during the surgery.
Hormone fluctuations can lead to a range of symptoms such as mood swings, weight gain, and changes in libido, which take time to adapt and adjust.
Hysterectomy can also affect a woman's sex life. While the uterus is not a direct source of sexual pleasure, a hysterectomy may alter the structure of the vagina and affect how it feels during sexual intercourse.
In addition, due to the dual effects of psychological factors and physical changes, some women may feel a decrease in the quality of their sex life.
5. Effect of hysterectomy on ovarian function
Although the purpose of hysterectomy surgery is to remove the uterus itself, the impact of surgery on ovarian function cannot be ignored.
As a woman's main endocrine organ, the ovaries are responsible for the production of estrogen and progesterone, which are essential for maintaining a woman's reproductive health and overall endocrine balance.
Once the uterus is removed, even if the ovaries are preserved, their blood supply and nerve connections may be affected, affecting the function of the ovaries.
Studies have shown that some women who undergo hysterectomy may experience premature ovarian function decline after surgery, a condition medically known as "post-operative ovarian failure".
This condition can lead to an earlier menopause in women, accompanied by symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, etc., which can affect a woman's daily life and mental health.
In addition, the loss of ovarian function may lead to long-term health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, etc.
Therefore, for women who have undergone hysterectomy, doctors usually recommend regular ovarian function checks and, depending on the situation, consider the need for hormone replacement therapy to reduce the effects of ovarian function decline.
epilogue
For women who have undergone a hysterectomy, they face not only the loss of an organ, but also a series of physical and psychological adjustments and challenges.
From changes in ovarian function to adjustments to the urinary system, each link can bring new discomforts and changes that need to be adapted. However, it is precisely these challenges that have allowed these women to demonstrate extraordinary resilience and courage.
Every woman who has undergone a hysterectomy is an admirable warrior who demonstrates resilience and wisdom in the face of physical and psychological challenges and is an example for all of us to follow.
Let us not only provide them with medical knowledge and treatment, but also give them understanding and respect, and work together to keep them in the best possible shape in this journey of life.