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Definition

Hysterectomy is the surgical term for the removal of the uterus (womb). This results in the inability to become pregnant. The surgery may be done through the abdomen or the vagina. This is a common surgery in the United States.

This type of surgery can be:

• Partial or subtotal hysterectomy—removal of the uterus (without removing the cervix)
• Total, complete, or simple hysterectomy—removal of the uterus and cervix (the opening of the uterus leading to the vagina)
• Radical hysterectomy—removal of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, upper part of the vagina, and the pelvic lymph nodes
• Salpingo-oophorectomy —removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes (may be combined with any of the above procedures)

Reasons for Procedure

You may have a hysterectomy if your uterus is causing health problems that cannot be treated by other means. Some reasons a woman may have a hysterectomy are to:

• Treat cancers such as uterine , endometrial, or ovarian cancers
• Remove uterine fibroids —common, benign (noncancerous) tumors that grow in the muscle of the uterus
• Treat chronic pelvic pain
• Treat heavy bleeding

Explore your options before having a hysterectomy. There are other treatments for many of these problems.

Possible Complications

If you are planning to have hysterectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Reactions to anesthesia
• Pain
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Fatigue
• Injured pelvic organs (bowel and/or bladder)
• Urinary incontinence (problems controlling your urine)
• Loss of ovarian function and early menopause
• Depression
• Sexual dysfunction

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Heart or lung disease
• Diabetes
• Previous pelvic surgery or serious infection
• Use of prescription and nonprescription drugs during the past month

Be sure to discuss the risks with your doctor before surgery.

What to Expect

Description of the Procedure

There are two different methods that are described here.

Open Abdominal Hysterectomy

The doctor will make a cut in your lower abdomen. This is to expose the tissue and blood vessels that surround the uterus. The tissue will then be cut. The blood vessels will be tied off. The uterus will be removed. Next, the doctor will sew the tissue back together and close the skin with stitches or staples. If the cervix is taken out with the uterus, you will also have stitches put in the back of your vagina.

Vaginal Hysterectomy

This method will not involve any outside incisions. The doctor will stretch the vagina and keep it open with special tools. He will then cut free the uterus and cervix. The connecting blood vessels will be tied off. Next, the doctor will remove the uterus and cervix through the vagina. Lastly, the doctor will close the area in the back of the vagina with stitches.

Vaginal Hysterectomy

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With each procedure, a vaginal "packing" is placed in the vagina. This will be removed after 1-2 days.

Call Your Doctor

After you leave the hospital, contact your doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Signs of infection, including fever and chills
• Redness, swelling, increasing pain, excessive bleeding, leakage, or any discharge from the incision site
• Incision opens up
• Nausea and/or vomiting that you cannot control with the medicines you were given after surgery, or which persist for more than two days after discharge from the hospital
• Dizziness or fainting
• Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
• Heavy bleeding
• Pain that you cannot control with the medicines you have been given
• Pain, burning, urgency or frequency of urination, or persistent bleeding in the urine
• Swelling, redness, or pain in your leg

In case of an emergency, CALL 911 .