What is a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is a surgery that removes female reproductive organs. There are two different types of hysterectomies.
- Partial Hysterectomy: In a partial hysterectomy, your surgeon removes your uterus.
- Total Hysterectomy: In a total hysterectomy, your surgeon removes your uterus, cervix, and in some cases your ovaries and fallopian tubes. If you do have your ovaries removed during the procedure, you’ll immediately enter menopause.
Your Women’s Health Specialist can perform these procedures through one of two methods, and they will advise you on the best option for your condition.
- Vaginal Hysterectomy: In a vaginal hysterectomy, your doctor removes your uterus through your vagina. Your recovery is faster for a vaginal hysterectomy, but it’s only suitable in some instances. If your uterus is enlarged, you’ll have to have an abdominal hysterectomy.
- Abdominal Hysterectomy: During an abdominal hysterectomy, your surgeon removes your uterus with an incision in your lower abdomen. A total or a partial hysterectomy can be performed this way.
Before your procedure, your Women’s Health Specialist will check for cancer and ensure you’re ready for surgery. Testing before a hysterectomy can involve a:
- Pelvic ultrasound
- Endometrial biopsy
- Cervical cytology or a pap test
The type of hysterectomy you have will depend on numerous factors, including why you’re having a hysterectomy, if there’s a need to explore the upper abdomen, and the size of your uterus.
Why would you need a hysterectomy?
The Women’s Health Specialists of Dallas perform abdominal and transvaginal hysterectomies to treat a range of medical conditions, including:
- Fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Uterine Prolapse
- Chronic Pelvic Pain
- Gynecologic Cancer
- Abnormal Vaginal Bleeding
After a hysterectomy, you no longer have menstrual periods and can’t become pregnant. If you aren’t ready to end your fertility, you should consider other treatments.
What are the benefits of a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy can help women find permanent relief from a variety of medical conditions.
Today’s technology allows for quicker, more precise, and more efficient surgeries than ever before. That means less downtime and scarring than with a traditional hysterectomy.
At Women’s Health Specialists of Dallas, our doctors perform robotic-assisted hysterectomies with a laparoscope, a slender viewing instrument with a light and camera that they install through small incisions. They use a computer to control the surgical instruments with optimal precision and accuracy to remove pieces of your uterus, one at a time, through the incisions on your abdomen.
This information is provided for informational educational purposes only, and should not be considered as individual medical advice. Please discuss your specific situation with your medical provider.