Hysterectomy

When might I need a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove your uterus. For noncancerous gynecological conditions, your provider first tries other appropriate treatments. Then they recommend surgery only if your symptoms don’t improve. You may need an immediate hysterectomy if you have cervical, uterine, or ovarian cancer.  

These are a few examples of gynecological conditions treated with a hysterectomy:

• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Endometrial polyps
• Abnormal bleeding
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Uterine prolapse

These conditions cause symptoms such as abnormal bleeding, pelvic pain, and pain before or during your menstrual periods. 

What type of hysterectomy might I need?

The type of hysterectomy that’s best for you depends on your diagnosis and general health. Your provider recommends one of the following:

Supracervical hysterectomy

During a supracervical hysterectomy, also called a partial hysterectomy, your provider removes your uterus while leaving the cervix intact.

Total hysterectomy

Your provider removes the cervix along with the uterus.

Radical hysterectomy

Providence Women's Healthcare usually recommends a radical hysterectomy to treat cancer. During this procedure, they remove your uterus, cervix, the upper part of your vagina, and in some cases, the pelvic lymph nodes.

Hysterectomy with oophorectomy and/or salpingectomy

When you have a hysterectomy, your provider may also remove your fallopian tubes (salpingectomy) or ovaries (oophorectomy).

Is a minimally invasive hysterectomy an option?

Whenever possible, Providence Women’s Healthcare performs minimally invasive hysterectomies. A minimally invasive procedure involves narrow instruments inserted through small incisions. As a result, you have less pain and bleeding, and a faster recovery.

Providence Women’s Healthcare specializes in three types of minimally invasive hysterectomies:

Vaginal hysterectomy

Your provider removes your uterus through an incision in your vagina.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy

To perform a laparoscopic hysterectomy, your provider makes several small incisions in your abdomen. They insert a scope through one incision. The scope lights the surgical site and sends magnified images to a monitor. Then they insert additional instruments through the other incision or, in some cases, through the scope, to perform your hysterectomy.

Robotic hysterectomy

Providence Women’s Healthcare has extensive experience using the da Vinci robotic surgical system. It is also a laparoscopic procedure, but the robotic device has a better range of movement and more precision than human hands. The robotic arms also fit into small, confined spaces, performing detailed and delicate surgery without damaging the nearby tissues.

If you need a hysterectomy or have questions about the procedure, call Providence Women’s Healthcare or schedule an appointment online today.