A hysterectomy is a medical procedure to remove part or all of the womb. It is an operation to treat a number of female uterine problems that did not respond to other medical treatments. The main non-cancerous issues treated with a hysterectomy are uterine fibroids, heavy menstrual bleeding, constant pelvic pain, cervical dysplasia, and uterine prolapse. After a physical examination and diagnosis of your individual symptoms and overall medical history, your Glendora General Surgeon will discuss your surgical options and make a recommendation for the best procedure for you.
Types of Hysterectomies
There are several surgical procedures that the surgeon will consider. While all hysterectomies involve the removal of a portion or all of the uterus, they do not always require the removal of the ovaries or the cervix. The most typical procedures are:
- Supracervical (Partial) Hysterectomy: The cervix is left in place while the upper area of the uterus is removed.
- Total Hysterectomy: Both the cervix and uterus are removed.
- Total Hysterectomy and Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy: The cervix, uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes Vaginal.
Surgical Options
There is the traditional, open surgery, and there are several minimally invasive options. The surgical procedure is performed in a hospital, the patient is given a general anesthetic so she will be asleep during the operation, and the patient will remain in the hospital for several days. The advantages of a minimally invasive procedure are a shorter hospital stay, shorter recovery period, and smaller or no visible scar lines. Before leaving the hospital, the patient is given instructions on post-surgical care, when to resume normal daily and sexual activities, and when to make a follow-up appointment with the surgeon.
Open Hysterectomy:
The surgeon makes one long incision, about 5 to 7 inches in length, across the abdomen. The surgeon then removes all or part of the uterus through this opening and any other part of the reproductive system that needs removal. The incision is then closed with sutures or staples.
Minimally Invasive Hysterectomies:
These types of hysterectomies accomplish the same results as an open hysterectomy, but there are smaller incisions and little or no visible scarring.
- Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: A special medical instrument with an attached camera is used. There are one or a few small incisions made to remove the uterus. The incision sites are stitched closed.
- Laparoscopic-assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy: An incision is made in the vagina, and a special medical instrument with an attached camera is used to remove the uterus. The incision site is stitched closed.
- Vagina Hysterectomy: The uterus is removed through an incision in the vagina. The incision site is stitched closed.
