Overview A hysterectomy is surgery that removes your uterus, and potentially your cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes. During your hysterectomy procedure, your surgeon may also do a related procedure to remove both of your ovaries and your fallopian tubes (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy). Sometimes, a hysterectomy involves removal of one or both ovaries and the fallopian tubes, a procedure called total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy (sal-ping-go-o-of-uh-REK-tuh-me). In some situations, your health care provider might recommend either a salpingectomy, which removes your fallopian tubes, or a salpingo-oopherectomy, which removes one or both of your ovaries and fallopian tubes, along with the hysterectomy.
Depending on the reason for a hysterectomy, the hysterectomy may include removal of surrounding organs and tissues, such as fallopian tubes and the ovaries. Other organs, such as ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and cervix, are most often removed in A hysterectomy. The most common type of Hysterectomy performed is total hysterectomy, in which the entire uterus, including the cervix, is removed.
In a radical hysterectomy, a surgeon removes the womb, the cervix, and the top part of the vagina. Radical hysterectomy, which is usually used for the treatment of some cancers of the reproductive system, removes all of the uterus, cervix, and surrounding tissues, including the upper vagina. A partial hysterectomy (also called supracervical hysterectomy) removes only the upper portion of the uterus, but not the cervix (research is ongoing on the risks and benefits of leaving the cervix intact).
Usually performed by a gynecologist, a hysterectomy can be either complete (removing the body, fundsus, and cervix of the uterus; commonly called complete) or partial (removing the body of the uterus, leaving the cervix intact; also called supremacephalic). A hysterectomy is a standard surgical procedure involving complete or partial removal of an individuals uterus.
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the womb (uterus), either with or without a cervix. Hysterectomy, the surgical removal of the uterus, or womb, is the second most common surgical procedure performed on women of reproductive age in the United States, behind C-section. Hysterectomy is the surgical technique by which the woman’s uterus is removed.
Vaginal Hysterectomy describes the surgical procedure by which the uterus is removed via the vagina. Laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy uses a laparoscope to guide the operation, and the uterus is removed through the vagina. Laparoscopic hysterectomy is a newer procedure that removes the uterus via very small incisions in the lower abdomen. Total laparoscopic hysterectomy is a technique where the uterus is separated from inside the body, then removed in smaller pieces, either by small incisions or by the vagina.
Robotic hysterectomy is another kind of minimally invasive uterus removal. Hysteroscopic hysterectomy A (vaginal) hysterectomy is the least invasive method for removing your uterus. Abdominal hysterectomy is pretty standard, and remains the most common method of removing uterus and other reproductive organs.
Abdominal hysterectomy is when an incision is made through the skin and tissues of the lower abdomen in order to reach the uterus. An abdominal hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus by making an incision into your lower abdomen.
The lower portion of your uterus (cervix) is typically removed (a complete hysterectomy), but it can sometimes remain in place (a partial hysterectomy). A supracervical hysterectomy, also known as subtotal or partial hysterectomy, removes the upper portion of the uterus and leaves your cervix in place. When the entire uterus, tubes, and ovaries are removed, the whole procedure is called a hysterectomy and bilateral salpingectomy-oophorectomy. A complete hysterectomy involves the removal of both the uterus and cervix. A radical hysterectomy is typically done when there is a tumor, involving removal of the uterus, tissue from either side of the uterus, upper part of the vagina, and cervix.
For early-stage, invasive cervical cancer that has not spread to other regions, radical trachelectomy (removal of the cervix or uterine neck) may be done instead of a total hysterectomy.
With a trachelectomy, the cancer can remain or come back, possibly leading to additional surgeries, sometimes to a hysterectomy, in the future. If you have uterine or ovarian cancer, or if your uterus is bleeding profusely (uncontrollable bleeding), having a hysterectomy can save your life. Rarely, hemorrhage can occur of the uterus, in which case Hysterectomy can be lifesaving. Whether or not you have any other symptoms of menopause after your hysterectomy depends on whether or not your doctor removed the ovaries in your operation.
If the premenopausal woman’s ovaries were removed, she has had surgical menopause. Once a woman has had any type of hysterectomy, she cannot get pregnant. After removing her uterus and other organs in the procedure, no matter what kind of hysterectomy is performed, a woman no longer has a period. Because the uterus is removed, you will no longer have periods, and cannot become pregnant.
During an abdominal hysterectomy, your surgeon removes your uterus from the ovaries, the fallopian tubes, and your upper vagina, and the blood vessels and connective tissues that support it. Vaginal hysterectomy is typically performed in cases of uterine prolapse (the cervix and uterus descend down the vagina, or project from the vaginal opening).
Types of hysterectomy Depending on the cause of hysterectomy, a surgeon can elect to remove the entire uterus, or just a portion. Things to Consider If you are having a hysterectomy, in addition to having the uterus removed, you may need to decide if your cervix or ovaries need to be removed. Removing your womb makes it impossible for a patient to have children (as does removal of ovaries and fallopian tubes) and has surgical risks, as well as long-term effects, which is why a hysterectomy is usually recommended only if no other treatment options are available, or has failed. Laparoscopically assisted vaginal Hysterectomy can be preferred for its faster recovery time, smaller scars, and lower pain, though actual surgery times are longer than with an abdominal approach.