Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus (womb), which causes the termination of menstruation and the inability to bear children. Now it ranks as the second most common surgery among women.
A hysterectomy may be total, radical or partial. Total hysterectomy involves total removal of the uterus and the cervix. Partial hysterectomy refers to removal of the upper part of the uterus, while leaving the cervix in place. Radical hysterectomy is an extreme surgery which involves the removal of the uterus, cervix, the upper part of the vagina, as well as some surrounding tissues. The most common illnesses hysterectomies are used to treat are fibroids (benign growths in the uterus), endometriosis, gynecologic cancers, uterine prolapse (falling of the uterus out of its normal position), persistent vaginal bleeding and chronic pelvic pain.
Removal of the uterus can be performed through an abdominal incision or through the vagina.
To conduct abdominal hysterectomy the doctor makes a cut in the belly, either across the bikini line or straight up and down to reach your uterus. The advantage of entering through the abdomen is that the surgeon has a better angle to view reproductive organs and more room to operate. This type of hysterectomy is the most common and is generally done when cancer might be present or when severe endometriosis, or a very large uterus makes the uterus hard to remove. The downside is that this type of surgery usually involves more visible scarring than a vaginal hysterectomy, as well a longer and more painful recovery period.
In the procedure of vaginal hysterectomy, the doctor will enter your uterus via your vagina; this technique requires no external incision and, therefore, leaves no external scar.
Some risks of having a hysterectomy include damage to the urinary tract, bowel or bladder, breathing or heart problems, blood transfusion, resulting from heavy blood loss, and opening of wounds. Contrary to common myth, a hysterectomy does not interfere with, or diminish the pleasure of, sexual intercourse. Nor does a hysterectomy cause a woman to gain weight.