Hysterectomy: Why You Need One

A hysterectomy is a procedure that involves removing the uterus through a surgical approach to help patients achieve desired results. Some of the reasons Dr. Pamela Snook may recommend a hysterectomy include eliminating disease symptoms that might hinder optimal reproductive function. The following are reasons patients receive hysterectomies:

• Patients with uterine fibroids experience a lot of pain that hinders their performance. It would be best to remove the uterus to eliminate fibroids causing symptoms.
• Uterine prolapse: This condition involves the uterus adopting an abnormal shape. Uterine prolapse occurs when the uterus slides, especially due to trauma.
• Cancer: Hysterectomy can target different parts of a woman’s reproductive system like the uterus, ovaries, and cervix. Your doctor may recommend a hysterectomy upon detection of cancerous cells to prevent the development of problematic tumors.
• Endometriosis: This condition involves growths of the endometrial lining outside the uterus leading to complications. Hysterectomy can help eliminate any growths, thus promoting wellness.
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding: A total hysterectomy can help correct the discomfort of abnormal vaginal bleeding by eliminating necessary parts of menstruation like the ovaries and uterus.

What are the different types of hysterectomies?

The type of approach your physician recommends will depend on your condition and thus present symptoms. Your physician will insist on an initial consultation to determine your health status by conducting a comprehensive examination, including necessary laboratory tests to confirm a diagnosis. Laboratory test results will contribute to developing an ideal treatment plan to correct patient concerns. It would be best to inform your doctor of desired goals like the possibility of future pregnancy to help design a conservative hysterectomy approach that will preserve reproductive health and function. The following are the main types of hysterectomies doctors perform:

• Supracervical hysterectomy: During this procedure, a physician will remove all parts in the uterus’s upper part, leaving only the cervix. Another name for a supracervical hysterectomy is subtotal.
• Total hysterectomy: A physician will not leave any part and removes the entire uterus and cervix.
• Radical hysterectomy: Your doctor will perform this procedure if there is proof of cancerous cells. This procedure invokes removing the entire uterus, including tissues on the side. A physician will also remove the cervix and the top part of the vagina.

Oophorectomy is an additional procedure to remove the ovaries. Salpingectomy involves removing the fallopian tubes. Therefore, removing the uterus, tubes, and ovaries is a combined approach called bilateral-salpingectomy- bilateral-salpingectomy-oophorectomy.

What are the surgical techniques for hysterectomy?

The type of technique your doctor leverages will depend on the type of hysterectomy you need and the severity of your condition. The two main surgical procedures for hysterectomies include:

• Open surgery hysterectomy

Your surgeon will make an incision across or along your belly to access and remove the uterus. Open surgery is the most prevalent. However, patients should expect scar formation of incision sites. Another name for this technique is abdominal hysterectomy.

• MIP hysterectomy

Physicians perform this technique to minimize scar formation. This procedure may involve using laparoscopic imaging tests to ensure accuracy and reduce risk.

Patients should find the right doctor before undergoing hysterectomies because the procedure involves risk. Contact Contemporary Women’s Care to receive a safe and effective hysterectomy for improved symptoms.