What is a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is a medically necessary surgery to remove your uterus, and sometimes your fallopian tubes and ovaries. After the surgery, you no longer have a period and cannot become pregnant. If it’s necessary to have both of your ovaries removed, you will enter menopause.
A partial hysterectomy removes just the upper part of your uterus, leaving your cervix in place. A total hysterectomy removes your entire uterus, including your cervix, and is the most common type of hysterectomy.
A radical hysterectomy removes your uterus, cervix, tissue surrounding the cervix, and the upper part of your vagina. This is typically used to treat certain types of cancers, like cervical cancer. In all three hysterectomy procedures, your doctor might also remove your fallopian tubes and/or ovaries.
When would I need a hysterectomy?
If nonsurgical treatments don’t help your health condition, your doctor could recommend a hysterectomy as a last resort to relieve painful symptoms or life-threatening diseases like cervical cancer. Other reasons you could need a hysterectomy include:
- To relieve uterine fibroids
- As an endometriosis treatment
- To relieve chronic pelvic pain
- To address abnormal uterine bleeding problems
- To correct uterine prolapse issues
Your OB/GYN at Mott Women Healthcare works with you to employ nonsurgical treatments, medications, and procedures that might relieve your symptoms, but if nothing delivers the results you need for a better quality of life, a hysterectomy could be your best option.
How do the doctors perform a hysterectomy?
There are a few ways to perform a hysterectomy, and your doctor explains them to you so you can make an informed decision as to which one is right for you. The different surgical procedures include:
- Abdominal hysterectomy
- Vaginal hysterectomy
- Laparoscopic surgery
- Robotic surgery
Abdominal hysterectomies involve an incision in your lower abdomen and are the most invasive. For a vaginal hysterectomy, your doctor makes a small cut in your vagina.
With a laparoscopic hysterectomy, your doctor uses a thin, lighted tube with a camera to see your internal organs and typically makes just a few small incisions in your abdomen in which to insert the laparoscope and perform the procedure. Robotic surgery is similar to a laparoscopic hysterectomy, only your OB/GYN uses a robotic arm to perform the surgery. Laparoscopic and robotic methods are the least invasive.
To learn about hysterectomy options, call Mott Women Healthcare to schedule a consultation or book one online.
