I can't thank Elizabeth enough for this book. I had my hysterectomy in 1998 and had one ovary removed which eventually shut down. I fell into a deep depression last year, that lasted for almost a year, and couldn't convince my doctor that it was a hormonal imbalance. He insisted it was something else and I needed a psychiatrist. Elizabeth gave me the answers I was looking for. I would highly recommend her book to anyone thinking about getting a hysterectomy. You just may have second thoughts after reading this book and there are other alternatives in many cases. To those that have already had a hysterectomy and have been through some difficult times, this book offers you hope for the future. I didn't realize just how much we need to hold on to our parts and how they function along with the rest of our bodies but I do now. It's too late for me but it may not be too late for someone else. Please take the time to read this book before having the surgery. I wish I would have. Thanks Elizabeth for a very informative book.

I read this book with a fairly objective mind - I admit, I was turned off by the title. Seemed somewhat..extreme, to me. And I was unfortunately proven correct, as I read further.

Whilst I appreciate Ms Plourde's experience *was* horrifying, frightening and incredibly traumatic, to suggest that the hysterectomies of other women are *rape*, is insulting, degrading and downright ignorant. Granted this IS only her opinion - but the very suggestion that we women don't know what we're doing, or haven't the common sense, intelligence or resources to investigate our own medical conditions is ultimately incredibly insulting and patronizing. Her point could have been made much better, and fairer, had she left out some of her own anger and bitterness, and included more factual evidence.

I cannot recommend this book, for any reason. Wait. If you have a table with a wobbly leg, it might help.

A much fairer representation of hysterectomy is given in The Woman's Guide To Hysterectomy, by Haas and Puretz.

This book is a must read for anyone comtemplating "ANY TYPE OF SURGERY INVOLVING THE REPRODUCTIVE" organs. I thought I did all possible to search for a Doctor who did not believe in removing organs to remove fibroid tumors. I went to a doctor who's associate wrote a book on fibroids. The objective of the book was to inform women of the aternatives methods of removing fibroid tumors. I assumed his associate would have the same philosophy. HRT is a VERY LUCRATIVE business and I think this associate doctor had his own agenda of maximizing his returns and creating a long term HRT patient. (He billed the insurance company by the parts removed.) He tried to convince me that I was at high risk for ovarian cancer. (I have found that this is not true.) Before the surgery, I specifically asked him if he could take a biopsy of my ovaries to make sure removal was necessary. He said, "yes". I awoke to find I had no ovaries. According to him, the good news was that - THERE WAS NO CANCER!! He did no biopsy to avoid this life altering surgery. I SAY - KNOW THE DOCTOR FOR SOME TIME BEFORE THE SURGERY!!! Decisions like these show the relationship between the pharmaceutical companies and the doctors. This doctor is no different than a mechanic who, while fixing your car, breaks something to keep you coming back. THe big difference - THE STAKES ARE MUCH, MUCH HIGHER!!!! Doctors and pharmacist are "NOT GODS". HRT could never exactly match the natural hormonal balance for each individual body. Unfortunately, the hit and miss tactics of getting it right can cause pain, suffering and grave side effects!! This book does not make decisions for you. It simply lets you know the consequences sometimes not explained by physicians who gain from your ignorance!

This book was written by a person that was unhappy before and after her surgery. Don't buy this book.

After 15+ years of dealing with severe endometriosis, I'm afraid that I bought into the "Oh, you'll be better than new!" theory. Or, as author Naomi Stokes called it, "The Great Conspiracy of Silence." I was 37 years old and had heard from countless gyns, starting in my early 20s, that having a hysterectomy/oophorectomy was my only "answer."

So I did finally did it. After all...each and every gyn (all male, by the way) had told me that I'd be just fine. That it "wasn't any big deal."

But I knew, rather soon after my surgery, that something just wasn't "right"...that my recovery wasn't going as well as everybody told it would...so I started to read. And I discovered, to my complete horror and much too late, of course, that the cost of this surgery was far too high a price to pay. Had I known then what I now know...I would NEVER have had the surgery.

I've now read, literally, dozens of books about hysterectomy, menopause, HRT...you name it. And I've found that Ms. Plourde's book, "The Ultimate Rape," is, without a doubt, the most complete source for information about this devasting surgery which continues to be performed on 500,000+ women every year.

I think this book should be a "must" read for EVERY woman. If you've been told that you "have" to have a hysterectomy...PLEASE get this book. If someone in your family, or a friend, has been told she needs a hysterectomy...please buy her this book. And if you're like me, post surgery, perhaps even many years post surgery but still searching for ways of learning to accept a body, mind, and spirit that's forever changed...read this book!

I'd like to make one last comment regarding some of the negative reviews I've seen here. All I can say to you ladies is that you, sadly, continue to be part of the problem...the reason this surgery is still performed at such a high rate in this country (for reasons other than diagnosed cancer). If you're one of the "lucky ones" who really thinks your life is better now than before your surgery...why are you here? Having this surgery was the biggest mistake of my life.

I only have gratitude and respect in my heart for Ms. Plourde for writing this book. SHE had the courage to speak out. Thank you, Ms. Plourde, for not only sharing your personal experiences but for also spending countless research hours to create a wonderful list of resources.