Book Review - The UNhysterectomy

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Although Bridges addresses alternatives (non-surgical) to hysterectomy such as “watchful waiting,” the reader is given a distinct impression that such approaches are not optimal as “menopause will come on its own sweet time” or “you may develop iron-deficiency anemia.” Her information is mostly medically sourced (through physician interviews and clinical research studies). Bridges seldom draws on the expertise of grassroots women’s health groups who would forewarn that even the least invasive surgeries carry risks. According to the Hysterectomy Education Resources and Services (HERS) in the United States, it is best to “[stay] out of an operating room whenever possible.” I believe this book would benefit from more consideration of the risks of any surgery.

Holly Bridges calls for collective action to address the problem of unnecessary hysterectomies. One of her solutions is for a “new pink ribbon campaign” in the form of “a green daisy on the lapel of every man, woman and child in this country to raise awareness and funds to help these initiatives become a reality.” I for one do not wear pink ribbons nor will I wear a green daisy. Such campaigns take a life of their own and take resources and energy away from the issue at hand.

Health activist, breast cancer survivor and blogger Barbara Brenner’s critique of the pink ribbon campaign makes this point (posted September 18 2011):

"Billions of dollars have been raised in the name of breast cancer research. We don’t know how much of that money actually goes to research. We don’t know what kinds of research are funded with that money. And the research funders often tout how much they have spent without every reporting whether the research has benefited women’s lives. What we do know is that the epidemic rages on, the incidence of breast cancer continues to increase, and the death rate does not decline."

Also, at CWHN we have joined with other organizations to focus on breast cancer PREVENTION. See our Get the Word Out postcard project.

All that said, if women are looking for information on surgical alternatives to hysterectomy, this is a book to read. The information is wide-ranging and offers women the knowledge and strategies to make informed choices. Throughout the book Bridges urges the reader to refer to her website for further in-depth information. Bridges explains that she has self-financed all of her work on the book and website and, in order to "maintain her neutrality", she no longer accepts ads or sponsorship from the pharmaceutical industry.

For decades, women health activists have been frustrated by the large numbers of unnecessary hysterectomies performed in Canada and the challenges women face seeking alternative treatments. Although underfunding of the healthcare system certainly is a contributing factor, the question that begs to be answered is: why haven’t medical schools not integrated into their gynecological training an ideology that views hysterectomy as a treatment of last resort? Holly Bridges boasts the skill set of Dr. Singh in performing non-invasive surgery and his commitment to preventing hysterectomies. Why is Dr. Singh’s practice style the exception and not the norm? In so questioning, Holly Bridges’ passionate writing reminds us, “there’s much work to do.”

Zelda Abramson is a sociologist at Acadia University whose research and teaching interests are in the areas of health and methodology.