Hysterectomies, Grief & Identity After 50
Monica Wood joins Audra and Val to share her personal journey with hysterectomy, opening up about the emotional, psychological, and physical toll of the procedure, and what it revealed about the disparities Black women face within the medical system. Hysterectomy is the second most common surgery for U.S. women ages 18-64, and Black women face it disproportionately, and at younger ages, than their peers.
Monica walks through the different types of hysterectomy and why informed decision-making matters, but the heart of this conversation is what happens after the surgery: the grief, the identity questions, and the mental health toll that often gets far less attention than the physical recovery. She's honest about what real support looked like for her, and what it actually means to show up for someone you love who's navigating a health struggle like this.
This is a conversation about breaking the silence, building real support systems, and giving yourself grace to heal on your own timeline.
"Give yourself grace to cry and grieve." –Monica Wood
What to Take With You:
Seek holistic support, including mental health care, as part of recovery
Educate yourself on the different types of hysterectomy before you're in a decision-making moment
Advocate for systemic change in women's healthcare
Practice self-compassion: Give yourself grace during healing
