Hi, I'm new to Mayo Clinic Connect. I'm interested in finding the discussion thread about fibroids to see if anyone else has had a similar experience (and similar feelings about it) ...

I'm 52, my GYN has just recommended a total hysterectomy (in which ovaries and cervix come out as well, as opposed to just taking the uterus and uterine fibroid/s out). As she put it, she's concerned about the rapid growth of my largest fibroid since my last ultrasound, 4 yrs ago.

My Primary Care doc explained that probably my GYN is concerned about abnormal (in other words, cancerous) cells lurking in my ovaries and cervix, because of the rate of growth of the fibroid.

I'm hoping to find out if an OB/Oncologist in my area (who my Primary Care doc recommended) will take my insurance, have look at my latest ultrasound and give helpful advice. Because I'd like to keep my ovaries - unless the advice is overwhelmingly to take them out. I'm not in menopause yet and, frankly, I'd just as soon keep the organs responsible for producing whatever estrogen, progesterone and testosterone they still do.

So here's my confusion and the cause of some angry feelings: the first fundamental fact you read/are told (consistently!) about uterine fibroids is that they're benign. The message, overwhelmingly, is 'relax, many women have them - if they're not causing significant quality-of-life issues, best to live with them'. I'm now feeling frustrated - and frightened - because I did indeed relax about it. I managed my symptoms and got on with life. And life was busy, so I missed some GYN checkups. (My bad, I realize, but I had ailing parents, a hectic job, all the usual excuses. Also, I don't ever recall getting the message, Yo! it's important you get this thing measured every year!)

So now my GYN is rushing me to have major surgery within the month because, as she puts it, she wouldn't feel safe waiting. Yikes.

Apologies for the length and the rant, but I feel there were conversations that should have happened between my GYN and me, and I wonder how many other women have had a similar 'relaxed' attitude about uterine fibroids only to later receive a frightening ultrasound report and feel rushed into accepting a total hysterectomy as the best option.

Thanks in advance for any shared experiences, any perspective, any positive outcomes from having a total hysterectomy for fibroids... I know it could be a lot worse, but I'm an active 52 yr old, and not looking forward if, indeed, a total hysterectomy is what awaits me.