When you have a complicated female reproductive health condition such as fibroids, endometriosis, or certain types of cancer, a hysterectomy can relieve painful symptoms and potentially save your life. The experienced, board-certified OB/GYN physicians at Mott Women Healthcare in New York City, make every attempt to treat your condition nonsurgically, but in some cases, a hysterectomy is the most effective way to restore your health. If you’re dealing with a reproductive health issue and want to learn about treatment options, including hysterectomies, call to schedule an appointment, or use the online booking system.
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.
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:
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.
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 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.