Women that have been diagnosed with uterine fibroids, endometriosis, pelvic relaxation, or suffer from chronic pelvic pain or abnormal bleeding, that has not responded to other treatment options, may find a Hysterectomy to be the best solution. A Hysterectomy is also performed to treat cancer or precancerous conditions by removing the cancer from the body. Our doctor performs Hysterectomy procedures for patients in our region.
What is a Hysterectomy?
A Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of all or part the uterus. It is one of the most common surgeries performed on women. A Hysterectomy may be subtotal (or supracervical) - removing the uterus while leaving the cervix in place; total - removing the uterus and cervix; or radical – removing the uterus, cervix, upper vagina and the tissues surrounding the uterus. A Salpingo-Oophorectomy Hysterectomy includes the removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes as well. A Hysterectomy will only be recommended by our doctor after other treatments and medications are unsuccessful or if certain types of cancer are present.
How is a Hysterectomy Performed?
There are a variety of surgical techniques for performing Hysterectomies and the type performed may depend on the condition being treated. The two most common Hysterectomies are abdominal and vaginal.
An Abdominal Hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus through a vertical or horizontal incision in the lower abdomen. The Abdominal Hysterectomy allows our doctors to view the whole abdomen and pelvic region. It is often performed if large tumors, a very large uterus, or cancer may be present.
A Vaginal Hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus through the vagina. There is no abdominal scarring associated with this type of Hysterectomy and healing time is usually shorter than an Abdominal Hysterectomy.
The Laparoscopic-Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy (LAVH) is the removal of the uterus through the vagina with the addition of a laparoscope, a small light-transmitting device, inserted into the abdomen which aides the viewing of the pelvic organs. It requires more time to perform than a standard Vaginal Hysterectomy, however, the recovery time is generally the same as the Vaginal hysterectomy.
The Laparoscopic Hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus in small pieces through small incisions in the abdomen. Recovery time is shorter with Laparoscopic Hysterectomy than with Vaginal or Abdominal Hysterectomies.
Recovery time for Hysterectomies varies from individual to individual depending on their health, how quick they heal in general and the type of Hysterectomy performed. The Abdominal Hysterectomy generally requires a longer hospital stay, and longer bed rest while some patients return to their normal activities within a week of a Vaginal Hysterectomy. A full recovery and return to all activities may take 6 weeks.
Our doctor will discuss these types of Hysterectomies, and recovery time in complete detail and suggest which type would be the best to treat your condition.Find out if you could benefit from this procedure.
Schedule your consultation with our doctor today.