A Majority of Women Didn’t Get Second Opinions Before Gynecological Surgery, Poll Says

DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fifty-three percent of women who had hysterectomies did not seek second opinions before scheduling their surgeries, according to a new poll of 4,157 women by HysterSisters, the first online community providing woman-to-woman support for gynecological health issues/concerns. The poll was conducted in April 2010 at www.hystersisters.com.

“They can give you new information, a new perspective or peace of mind. Every woman deserves a second opinion.”

To encourage women to seek second opinions before a hysterectomy or any life-changing surgery, HysterSisters founder Kathy Kelley created Give Me a Second, a new awareness campaign with an online video and website at givemeasecond.com.

“Second opinions can do three important things for any woman facing a major decision about any surgery, not just hysterectomy,” says Kathy Kelley, who started HysterSisters in 1998 after her own hysterectomy. “They can give you new information, a new perspective or peace of mind. Every woman deserves a second opinion.”

Hysterectomy is the second most frequent major surgical procedure among reproductive-aged women (after c-sections). Each year approximately 600,000 women in the United States have hysterectomies, and over 60 percent of those surgeries are performed with outdated surgical methods that mean longer hospitalizations and longer recovery periods, according to research published by Obstetrics & Gynecology in November 2009. The outdated surgical method is an open abdominal incision compared to laparoscopic, vaginal and robotic-assisted methods.

Especially for women facing gynecological health concerns or disease, second opinions may result in fewer invasive surgeries, fewer hysterectomies, an increase in alternative treatments and improved quality of life for women.

“I’m passionate about minimally invasive surgeries such as laparoscopy because patients do so well,” says Dr. Lori Warren, a gynecological surgeon at Women First Obstetrics & Gynecology in Louisville, Ky. “All women facing hysterectomy need to ask their doctors ‘do I need a large incision?’ If doctors start getting the questions, more may start getting the training.”

Kelley says by asking more questions and getting second opinions, women become respectful partners with their doctors and improve the quality of their care and their outcomes. “Give Me a Second wants women to know it’s okay to talk to more than one doctor,” she says. “In fact, it’s good for your health.”

Give Me a Second was created and sponsored by HysterSisters, which is solely responsible for all content. HysterSisters acknowledges Ethicon Gynecare for its small educational grant in support of its awareness campaign.

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