A hysterectomy is a common procedure whereby part or all of the female reproductive organs and or supporting tissue are removed. A hysterectomy is used to combat several conditions and the extent of the procedure will depend on the circumstances and condition of a woman. For example, a hysterectomy may be advised for a woman with certain kinds of gynecological cancers.
Other conditions where a hysterectomy may be a suitable treatment are fibroids, endometriosis, uterine prolapse and chronic pelvic pain. Sometimes a hysterectomy may be recommended for women who are experiencing profound bleeding, pelvic pain and problems with the bladder associated with a gynecologic condition.
Types of Hysterectomy Procedure
There are four primary types of hysterectomy. There are partial, total, hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and radical hysterectomies. Deciding what hysterectomy procedure is appropriate will depend on the patient and her individual needs. In addition, a hysterectomy may be done through the abdomen or through the vagina depending on the situation. A hysterectomy is the removal of a woman’s uterus and sometimes other organs related to reproduction. The end result of a hysterectomy is that a woman will no longer be able to get pregnant, but also that many gynecological problems may be resolved.
A hysterectomy procedure is done in the hospital as an inpatient. Recovery time will be dependent on the procedure done and whether there are any other complications. The uterus is detached from the body in a partial hysterectomy. In the case of a total hysterectomy the uterus and the cervix will be removed. On occasion, the hysterectomy procedure will involve removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries. This is called a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy. A radical hysterectomy involves the removal of all the sex organs including a portion of the vagina, connecting tissue and lymph nodes (Mayo Clinic).
Hysterectomy Procedure
When it is determined that a hysterectomy procedure is necessary, the physician will perform the vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy. There are two types of incisions associated with an abdominal hysterectomy. The incision can run horizontal or vertical. The vertical incision runs from under the navel to slightly above the pubic bone. The second commonly used type of incision, the horizontal incision (Pfannenstiel incision) runs across the abdomen about an inch above the pubic bone. The vaginal hysterectomy involves the physician gaining access to the uterus through the vagina and cervix. This approach has less scarring and a shorter healing period than the abdominal hysterectomy procedure, but the doctor doesn’t have as much room to work or as good of a view of other organs in the reproductive system.
A hysterectomy may not always be necessary for treatment of all of the conditions it is used to treat. For example, chemotherapy may be used to treat some gynecological cancers. Further, fibroid, endometriosis and a prolapsed uterus may respond to alternative treatment plans. Hysterectomies remove the ability to have babies, so if a woman wants to have children, she may look to other options.
For some women a hysterectomy may be a lifesaving procedure. There are risks associated with any type of surgery and hysterectomies are no exception. A woman who is considering a hysterectomy should consider the risks and benefits thoroughly before undertaking the procedure.
- Related Topics
- Post Hysterectomy Bleeding | Care After Hysterectomy | Information, Facts – Hysterectomy
- Incisional Hernia after Hysterectomy: Pain, Hernias after Hysterectomy
- Hysterectomy Results: Benefits, Side Effects and Care
- Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy: Recovery and Complications
- Uterus Removal Side Effects: Recovery Time After Hysterectomy
