A doctor may recommend hysterectomy
— surgery to remove a woman’s 
uterus — for a several reasons,
including:
- Noncancerous growths, called fibroids, that cause heavy bleeding or
pain
- Endometriosis, a condition in which tissue that
normally lines the uterus grows outside of it
- Prolapsed
uterus, in which the uterus has dropped down into the
vagina
- Uterine, cervical or ovarian cancer
- Persistent, heavy
vaginal bleeding that can’t be controlled by medication or
nonsurgical techniques
- Chronic uterine pain that doesn’t get
better with other treatments
Traditionally, doctors
have performed hysterectomies by taking the uterus out through an
abdominal incision. But other surgical approaches may be available,
depending on a woman’s individual situation. If you’re
considering having a hysterectomy, talk with your doctor and check with your
health plan for help in determining which option is best for
you.
Less invasive options may be available
Surgeons
also can remove the uterus through the vagina. The procedure,
called vaginal hysterectomy, may be used for prolapse and menstrual
problems when the uterus is a normal size.
A newer
procedure, laparoscopic hysterectomy, involves making very small incisions
on the abdomen. A laparoscope — a thin, hollow tube connected to
a video camera — is inserted through one incision to guide the
surgeon. Instruments inserted into the other incisions are used to
perform surgical tasks.
The laparoscope may be used as part
of a vaginal hysterectomy. Or the entire surgery may be done
laparoscopically.
Smaller incisions can reduce pain,
recovery time
The tiny incisions used in laparoscopy can result
in less pain and blood loss, shorter hospital stays, fewer wound
infections and quicker recovery than with abdominal hysterectomy.
While it may take one to two months to return to normal activity
with an abdominal hysterectomy, most women are able to recover
completely in one to two weeks with laparoscopic surgery.
