Hysterectomy: The Facts

[x]   Tags: Uterine Prolapse, Prolapse Uterine, Hysterectomy, Vaginal Bleeding, Hysterectomy Alternatives: Uterus, Cervix, Bladder, Prolapse Surgery, Reproductive Surgery, Women's Health, Reproductive Health :Health, Health Video, Medical Videos, Medical, Video

[x]   Transcript: Surgery isnt your only option for treating uterine prolapse. A removable support gadget called a pessary can be worn inside the vagina to hold the prolapse in place. Uterine prolapse occurs when the cervix and uterus fall from their correct position above the vagina into the vaginal canal. Should the uterus drop far enough, it may be possible to even SEE the cervix, which looks like a small pink donut. A pessary is sort of like a brace or wrap you would wear for wobbly knee ligaments. It simply boosts your uterus back up and holds it there. Women have used them since biblical times, when they were made of smooth stone and potatoes. Thankfully, todays models are made of comfortable latex, plastic, or silicone. Pessaries are ideal for women with prolapse who are in between babies or when a woman simply doesnt have the time, money, or good health that surgery requires. If your doctor decides a pessary is right for you, shell fit you right in her office. The best model is the one that you can insert and remove on your own, and it doesnt move around during any activity. Ring plate pessaries, the most common option, are 80% effective for treating mild and moderate cases of uterine prolapse. The ring pessary is inserted just like a diaphragm, where it rests on the Kegel muscle walls. If a womans Kegel muscle walls are weak, however, she may have a hard time keeping the pessary in place. Luckily, there are other options, like the Gelhorn, a stemmed device, the balloon, which can be inflated and deflated, and the Colpexin, which looks like a lollypop on a string. Colpexin is a newer model which gently exercises the Kegel muscles WHILE holding the prolapse in place. In fact, 63% of women who used this model had stronger vaginal muscles at the end of a 16-week trial! Whichever pessary you use, remember to clean it per your doctors instructions, and have it replaced if its cracked, pitted, or unpleasant smelling after washing.

[x]   Bio: Dr. Lauri Romanzi is a reconstructive pelvic surgeon, urogynecologist and clinical associate professor at Weill/Cornell New York Presbyterian Hosptial in New York City. Her urogynecologic research includes prolapse, incontinence, overactive bladder, Kegel fitness scoring, genital sensitivity nerve testing and fistula repair. Her 2009 book Plumbing and Renovation: If you have a uterus or know someone who does, this book is for you provides the lay public with a review on pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence and pelvic floor fitness.

Dr. Romanzi has been a featured expert on the Today Show, The Dr. Oz Show and Good Morning America. Additional media credits include: NY Times, Fox 5, London Guardian, More Magazine, Redbook, Oprah Magazine, Telemundo, Radio Ritas, Dr. Radio, Cosmo Radio, London Times, Playboy Radio and Italian Playboy.

Dr. Romanzi advises women with pelvic floor disorders who cannot travel to New York through her blog (www.urogynics.org/blog – ask Dr R feature). In 2008 she opened PHIT, the world's first medical spa devoted to Kegel -focused feminine rejuvenation (www.theperfectphit.com ).

Dr. Romanzi's international work with Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Surgeons Over Seas and other international groups includes teaching and volunteer surgery for women suffering childbirth injury and war trauma in Niger, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo.