What is a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is an operation to remove all or part of a woman’s uterus. If the woman is pre-menopausal, menstruation will stop and she will not be able to bear children.

A woman may have a hysterectomy for different reasons, including:

• • Cancer of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries

• • Prolapse of the uterus

• • Abnormal vaginal bleeding

• • Chronic pelvic pain

• • Endometriosis

• • Fibroids that cause pain, bleeding or other problems

• • Adenomyosis, or a thickening of the uterus.

Hysterectomy for non-cancerous reasons is usually considered only after all other treatment methods have been tried without success.

Types of hysterectomy

 

Depending on the reason for the hysterectomy, a surgeon may choose to remove all or only part of the uterus.

• • Partial removes just the upper part of the uterus

• • Total removes the whole uterus and the cervix

• • Radical removes the whole uterus, the tissue on both sides of the cervix and the upper part of the vagina. This is done mostly when there are cancer cells present.

How is a hysterectomy performed?

There are two approaches to surgery – traditional or open surgery and surgery using a minimally invasive procedure (MIP). In a traditional hysterectomy, a large incision is made to the abdomen in order to view the internal organs and remove the uterus. With MIP, also called laparoscopic hysterectomies, specialised tools are inserted through smaller incisions. The approach chosen depends on the reason for the hysterectomy and the woman’s overall health. The hysterectomy technique will partly determine healing time and the kind of scar, if any, that remains after the operation. Although an MIP approach offers a number of benefits when compared to the more traditional open surgery, not every woman is a good candidate for a minimally invasive procedure.

Risks of hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is a low-risk surgery. Most women who undergo a hysterectomy have no serious problems or complications from the surgery. However, as with any surgery, a hysterectomy can result in complications for a small minority of women. Those complications may include:

• • Urinary incontinence

• • Vaginal prolapse (part of the vagina coming out of the body)

• • Fistula formation (an abnormal connection that forms between the vagina and bladder)

• • Chronic pain.

Is a Pap test still necessary after a hysterectomy?

You will still need regular Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer if you had a partial hysterectomy, or if your hysterectomy was for cancerous reasons. Even if you do not need Pap tests, all women who have had a hysterectomy should have regular pelvic exams and mammograms.

What to do when you are told you need a hysterectomy

Every woman is different and every situation is different. A good treatment choice for one woman may not be as good for another. It is important that you should ask about the possible risks of the proposed surgery. Talk to your doctor about other treatment options available and consider getting a second opinion from another doctor.

 

Sources
http://www.smarterpatient.com
http://womenshealth.gov
http://women.webmd.com