Some women experience relief when they get the news that they need a hysterectomy.

But for Carmel Schleger it was an emotional blow. After all, getting your uterus surgically removed and in some cases, the fallopian tubes and ovaries, too?is no small matter.

She moved forward with the procedure, only because a female family member had had cervical cancer. Although her procedure was successful, she still found it invasive.

That feeling was compounded by what she perceived as a lack of emotional validation, understanding, and support. When she searched online for a support...