Hysterectomy surgery involves removing the uterus, womb, making the ability to become pregnant no longer possible. Hysterectomy surgery is designed to help eliminate problems occurring with the uterine areas. According to The National Women's Health Information Center, hysterectomy surgery is the "second most common surgery among women in the United States."
Significance
Hysterectomy surgery, removal of the uterus, assists with treatment of benign tumors called fibroids, painful or heavy bleeding menstruation, cancer and endometriosis. Endometriosis can be a cause of persistent pelvic pain, another cause for a hysterectomy, as well as a shifting or dropped uterus. The uterus holds the fetus during pregnancy and is located in the abdomen. Hysterectomies can be complete, partial or radical.
Types
According to The National Women's Health Information Center (NWIC), a complete or total hysterectomy is the most common performed. A complete hysterectomy involves removal of the whole uterus and the cervix. When having a partial or subtotal hysterectomy, the upper part of the uterus is removed, but the cervix is left. As to the radical hysterectomy, the uterus, cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes and other supporting tissues around the uterus are removed.
Surgery
The most common hysterectomy surgery is abdominal, open surgery. An incision is made in the lower abdomen in order to remove the uterus. Also used is the vaginal hysterectomy, a type of surgery in which the uterus is removed through incisions made inside the vagina. The laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH) involves the use of a lighted camera device, known as a laparoscope. Small incisions are made in the abdomen and the scope is inserted through the openings, allowing the surgeon to see the organs for vaginal removal. Lastly, there is the laparoscopic hysterectomy. This type differs from the LAVH, because the uterus is removed through the incisions as opposed to the vagina.
Recovery
Recovery times from the differing types of hysterectomy surgery vary. Patients are admitted to the hospital post-surgery, anywhere from one to four days. According to the Mayo Clinic, recovery from an abdominal hysterectomy ranges from four to eight weeks. Recovery time for patients undergoing the LAVH surgery is one to two weeks and is the same for the laparoscopic hysterectomy.
Effects
The physical, emotional and sexual effects from a hysterectomy largely depend on the type of hysterectomy. Nonetheless, there are side effects to be noted. Physically, the menstrual cycle stops. There can be hormone imbalances, which can be leveled out with medication, depending whether the ovaries are removed. If the ovaries are removed, early onset of menopause will automatically occur in women 45 and under. Women are sometimes affected emotionally because they experience the loss of an organ, specifically the womb. Finally, sexual desire can change. Some women feel more liberty because they no longer have to be concerned with pregnancy. Others may find this fact upsetting.
Tags: uterus removed, most common, According National, According National Women, because they
