*waving at Una* -- Hi there! Sorry I didn't see your post until today. I've been writing a cultural theory (read: incomprehensible philosophy) paper for three days solid. I've barely looked up.
Anyway, it sounds like you (we!) are not alone. Lots of good advice. I can only speak from my own experience, but I am happy to share it with you. I did have the hysterectomy and I have absolutely zero regrets. It's one of the best decisions I've ever made. However, it should be noted that I did not have any of the potential complications.
My situation was a huge (like, cantaloupe-sized) fibroid that eventually caused near-constant low-level bleeding. They first noticed it during an ultrasound when I was pregnant with my son at age 35, and it only regressed to the size of an orange (why is it always fruit?) afterwards, giving me a bulky uterus but no other problems. However, over the next four years it continued to grow, and appeared to be picking up speed. I was offered several options (including the hormone treatment, and that uterine artery embolization thing (UAE) where they inject pellets into your uterine artery to try to block up the fibroid's blood supply -- er, no thanks). But in part because I didn't need my uterus anymore, and in part because it was so flipping huge that I was starting to look pregnant, I chose to have it removed.
I tend towards the idea that when it comes to removing body parts, we should be conservative. So what I actually had scheduled was a myomectomy, and if the surgeon felt that would be impossible, a partial hysterectomy, which means removing the body of the uterus and leaving the cervix in place. I ended up with the supracervical hysterectomy, which meant there were no stitches in my vagina (yay) but there were stitches low on my abdomen, as you'd have for a c-section. It also means I still have to go for yearly Pap tests, but on the upside, I cannot tell a difference in my anatomy (this was important to me).
Had I chosen a hysterectomy from the outset, they could have done it laparoscopically, trading in one long, low scar for two small scars much higher up. I'm actually happier having a low, hidden scar than small but visible scars, although I think it does take longer to heal from an open laparotomy than it does for laparoscopic surgery.
Also, because I still have my ovaries, I still experience premenstrual symptoms like breast swelling on a cyclic basis. It has been nearly four years, and it's like I still have a menstrual cycle, except I don't bleed AT ALL. It is so liberating! Truth be told, it's a big part of the reason I delight in going handbag-free. I do it because now, I can!
One other thing: I greatly appreciate having a much flatter stomach and a non-lumpy abdomen. I had not realized how pregnant I looked -- or how uncomfortable I had been -- until I had my uterus out. (This was probably made worse by the fact that I am so small, so there isn't a lot of space in my abdominal cavity anyway). Hormone treatment won't make the fibroids smaller. Menopause will, but if they are really big, it's unlikely they will go completely away, so you'll always have lumps in your abdomen.