When you're deciding whether to have a hysterectomy to stop abnormal uterine bleeding, it may help to hear what other women thought about as they made their decision.

[First woman] "I call my period 'the flood.' It's made me miss work and caused some embarrassing moments.

I tried several different birth control pills, but I didn't like the side effects.

The idea of being done with the whole thing sounds great ... but I'm only 29.

I don't think I want kids ... but I'm not a hundred percent sure.

I've put off getting an IUD ... I felt weird about something like that inside me ...

but now I'm ready to try it.

My doctor says it could reduce my bleeding a lot, and it's also a good form of birth control."

[Second woman] "I loved being pregnant because it gave me a break from my periods.

They're so bad, I've ended up with anemia.

I've tried a lot of things ... including an IUD ... but nothing really helped much.

I'm sick and tired of the mess and having no energy.

And I've got two kids ... that's enough for me.

I'm so ready to have the surgery."

[Third woman] "I started having heavy, irregular periods in my early 40s.

Given my age, my doctor did a biopsy to make sure it wasn't cancer ... and it's not.

My sister had this same problem at the same age, and she had a hysterectomy.

For her, that was great ... and she thinks I should have one too.

But I don't want to have my uterus taken out.

I know it's causing my trouble ... but it's part of me.

I'm only a few years away from menopause, so I've decided to live with the periods for now and wait for them to stop on their own."

Like the women you've just heard from, you have your own feelings about the pros and cons of this surgery.

It's important to share those feelings with your doctor, so that the two of you can talk them over ...

combine them with the medical facts ...

and choose the best treatment for you.