Hysterectomy

A recommendation for a hysterectomy usually occurs as the first line of treatment if you receive a gynecologic cancer diagnosis. For noncancerous conditions, however, a hysterectomy is the last option considered after other conservative treatments fail.

These are a few examples of gynecologic conditions that may ultimately need a hysterectomy.

• Uterine fibroids: Noncancerous growths that develop in the muscles lining your uterus
• Endometrial polyps: Noncancerous growth on the inner wall of the uterus
• Endometriosis: Tissues from inside the uterus grow on organs in the pelvis
• Abnormal bleeding: Heavy, long, or irregular periods or bleeding after menopause
• Adenomyosis: The uterine lining grows into the muscular layer of the uterus

These conditions are known for causing symptoms such as pelvic pain, cramping, and heavy bleeding.

Your doctor at Advanced Women’s Healthcare may recommend one of three types of hysterectomies, depending on your underlying condition.

• Supracervical hysterectomy, to remove the uterus while leaving the cervix intact
• Total hysterectomy, to remove the uterus and cervix
• Radical hysterectomy, to remove the uterus, cervix, and part of the vagina, fallopian tubes, ovaries, and lymph nodes

Your doctor may also remove your ovaries and fallopian tubes during a supracervical or total hysterectomy.

Your Advanced Women’s Healthcare doctor may perform your hysterectomy using one of several approaches:

This is conventional open surgery, in which your hysterectomy is performed using an abdominal incision that’s 6-12 inches long. Your doctor may recommend open surgery when cancer is involved because the larger incision makes it easier to see and remove all the structures affected by cancer.

During a vaginal hysterectomy, your uterus is removed through an incision in the vagina. You may be a good candidate for this approach if you don’t have cancer, your uterus is a normal size, and the underlying condition is limited to the uterus.

This minimally invasive procedure is performed using a few small abdominal incisions. Your doctor inserts a laparoscope, a narrow instrument that holds a small camera, through one incision, then the surgical tools needed to perform your surgery are inserted through the other incision.

The da Vinci surgical system allows your doctor to perform minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgery. Your surgeon uses sensitive finger controls to manipulate robotic arms that hold the laparoscope and other surgical tools. The robotic arms allow better dexterity and precision than human hands, and they’re small enough to safely work in tight areas inside your body.

If you need a hysterectomy, you can count on the expertise and compassion of the team at Advanced Women’s Healthcare. Call us to schedule an appointment.