[theoddz]

I had a total vag hysto back in '93 as a palliative remedy for the effects of Stein-Leventhal Syndrome, also known as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Mine was a little different from traditional PCOS, which is why I call it by the older name. My endocrine system practically collapsed while I was serving on active duty in the Marine Corps when I was 19 years old. I was medically retired from the Marine Corps because of this. At that time, there was really no way to treat or cure PCOS and the only thing they did was address the infertility issues connected with PCOS. I wasn't at all interested in fertility, so my option for treatment was pretty much moot.

I had a vaginal hysto, because my doctors decided, for whatever reason, that it would be better for me to not have an abdominal incision. A vaginal procedure is where they go in from the vagina, pull everything (cervix, uterus, tubes and ovaries) inside out and snip it out. Then, where the cervix was, they fold and stitch it into what is called an "envelope". For me, it was "easy, peasy, lemon squeezey" and I was up and walking around the night after my surgery. I had minimal pain and no complications. Actually, I was able to go back to work the week after the procedure. It was really easy on me and I can't say that I noticed having any really noticeable pain afterward. In fact, I went home the very next day. I had what I would consider just a feeling of "uncomfortability", and that only lasted for a day or two after the surgery, but that was it.

The hysto made things a lot better for me. No more monthly cysts and abdominal torture and no more wondering when and/or IF I was going to have a monthly cycle. Life just got better all the way around and, for my own emotional reasons (related to my gender dysphoria), I felt emotionally MUCH better to be rid of "those parts".

I do want to say, too, that in my own case, it's made my transition much easier, physically and emotionally, because my body isn't manufacturing estrogen anymore. My hormones are, for once, stable and my body took to T like a duck to water!!! I can't help but think that not having ovaries to manufacture estrogen has helped the T to work better, since it's not fighting estrogen.

~Theo~