Mary Lou McDonald discusses undergoing hysterectomy

Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald revealed she underwent a hysterectomy earlier this year.

In an interview with Ireland AM on Virgin Media, the Dublin Central TD said she underwent a procedure to remove her womb on June 24th.

She indicated that the procedure was carried out following the discovery of tumours, and praised the work of the staff Dublin’s Rotunda Hospital where she underwent the procedure.

“It was a fairly significant surgery – fortunately it was done by keyhole, which is great because it aids your recovery and more fortunately that was it for me.”

“I had the surgery, the growths, the tumours were removed, and I didn’t require any further treatments or therapies,” she said.

She said it was a “serious surgery – it knocks you off course, but I was extremely lucky”.

“You’re kind of confronted with the fact that you’re not superhuman and you’re at another stage in your life,” she noted.

“It’s very important that we can talk about this issue, it’s very important for women’s health that we can have these conversations and understand what women and girls are going through, everything from menstruation, to menopause. We need to be able to have these conversations and men need to be part, and boys need to be part, of the conversation.”

McDonald posted a video on Twitter yesterday announcing she was ready to make her comeback after recovering from the surgery and thanked those who wished her well during her recovery period.

The Sinn Féin leader will be present at the party think-in this weekend, and was “fully recovered and ready to get back to work” as the Dáil returns next week.

I am fully recovered, back at work and more determined than ever to lead the change that I know you so desperately want to see.#sinnféin #timeforchange #readytolead pic.twitter.com/mOi6GmvACu

— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) September 13, 2023