I had my second baby July last year and roughly 6 months later, I had a bilateral salpingectomy where both of my tubes were removed. Rather than clamping or cauterizing them, my doctor prefers to just take them out so that’s why the BS instead of a tubal ligation.

I had painful periods even before the surgery, but since the surgery back in January, my periods have been a million times worse. The pain has been so unbearable that my first few cycles I almost went to the ER - there was never any mention of what the surgery may or may not do to my cycles, so I was worried something was seriously wrong with me. Like an infection or something. I called the hospital were I had the surgery and talked to the doctor-on-call, wasn’t the surgeon but was also present during my surgery, and she brushed me off and just told me to take some ibuprofen.

I felt like maybe I was being dramatic so I suffered through a few more months before I decided to seek out a new obgyn. Finally found one and after a 2 month wait, got to meet with her and I explained my symptoms- nausea, back pain, pain in my legs, and a burning sensation exclusively on my left side in my lower abdomen (only when I’m on my period/ovulating) and she was very concerned and told me she wants me to schedule an ultrasound asap. That appointment was Aug 4 and I have the ultrasound this Tuesday. She told me if there’s a cyst, she can remove it and then I should feel fine again. Or it could be endometriosis, fibroids, or scar tissue in which case, I’d have to take birth control or have a hysterectomy to have my uterus and my ovaries removed as well. She suggested Depo or an IUD. I’ve done Depo before and I’m not opposed to it, but it did make me gain a lot of weight & having to go to the office every 3 months for the rest of my life sounds like such a nuisance after a while. But I’ve also heard some horror stories about the IUD. I’d prefer to not have another surgery if I can avoid it, but if I’m going to take birth control, I want to take something that’s going to be sustainable for a long period of time, otherwise I’m considering the hysterectomy.

I’m torn. Idk what to do. I know I might be jumping the gun and it could just be a cyst - but I’m so worried that this is just the new norm for me now and I’m going to be in pain unless I do something about it. I don’t really have an issue with a hysterectomy - I already have 2 kids and I don’t have tubes anyway - so getting pregnant again already isn’t possible for me - I’m just scared to have another surgery and what that’ll do to my body. We didn’t delve too much into the hysterectomy stuff, so I don’t know much about it yet. But wouldn’t I essentially go into menopause? And would I need to take estrogen for the rest of my life? Anyone had a hysterectomy that would be willing to share their experience? Anyone with an IUD? Would love to hear more perspectives about both.