Safest hysterectomy options
Published:Wednesday | January 10, 2024 | 12:06 AMKeisha Hill/Senior Gleaner Writer
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus. After a hysterectomy, you will not menstruate or be able to get pregnant. Uterus removal is a common treatment for a variety of conditions that affect a woman’s reproductive organs.
Hysterectomies are carried out to treat health problems that affect the female reproductive system. These include heavy periods, long-term pelvic pain, non-cancerous tumours, ovarian cancer, womb cancer, cervical cancer or cancer of the fallopian tube.
A hysterectomy is a major operation with a long recovery time and is only considered after less invasive treatments have been tried.
According to Dr Charles Rockhead, gynaecologist and founding doctor at Amadeo Medical Group,there are several types of hysterectomies.
These types of hysterectomies include total hysterectomy that removes the entire uterus and the cervix, which is the most common type; partial hysterectomy, also called supracervical hysterectomy, that removes only the uterus, leaving behind the cervix; and radical hysterectomy that removes the uterus, cervix and upper part of the vagina, which is usually for cancer treatment.
Dr Rockhead said there are three ways to carry out a hysterectomy – laparoscopic hysterectomy, where small cuts are made in the tummy and the womb is removed through a cut in the vagina; vaginal hysterectomy, where the womb is removed through a cut in the top of the vagina; and abdominal hysterectomy, where the womb is removed through a cut in the lower tummy.
“An abdominal hysterectomy is usually considered a last resort after other treatments have failed, unless it is performed as a life-saving measure for conditions such as cancer. The decision to have a hysterectomy should be shared between you and your doctor. In most cases, an abdominal hysterectomy is needed to relieve either acute or chronic painful and distressing symptoms,” Dr Rockhead said.
An abdominal hysterectomy involves removing the uterus roughage cut in the abdomen. The incision is usually across the tummy (transverse) leaving a scar in the bikini area which is approximately 10cm long. Occasionally, it is necessary to make a slightly larger incision vertically up and down your tummy midline. This can be discussed with the doctor before your operation.
MINIMALLY INVASIVE
However, Dr Rockhead said a vaginal hysterectomy is one of the safest procedures to remove the uterus. Most people can go home within 24 hours of surgery, but it often takes six weeks to return to daily activities. There may also be long-term hormonal effects.
“A hysterectomy through the vagina is minimally invasive, so recovery is normally shorter and easier than other types, such as abdominal hysterectomy. It also leaves no visible scar,” he said.
“Vaginal hysterectomy involves a shorter time in the hospital, lower cost and faster recovery than an abdominal hysterectomy, which requires an incision in your lower abdomen. However, depending on the size and shape of your uterus or the reason for the surgery, vaginal hysterectomy might not be possible,” Dr Rockhead added.
After a hysterectomy, you will no longer have periods or be able to get pregnant.
If you had your ovaries removed but have not reached menopause, you will begin menopause immediately after surgery. You might have symptoms such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes and night sweats. Your doctor can recommend medications for these symptoms, and your doctor might recommend hormone therapy even if you do not have symptoms.
If your ovaries were not removed during surgery and you still had periods before your surgery, your ovaries continue producing hormones and eggs until you reach natural menopause.
In the United States, hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures. Even with the increased use of conservative therapies, approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed each year.