Hysterectomy

HYSTERECTOMY is a surgery performed to remove the Uterus. It prevents future pregnancy and eliminates fibroid-related bleeding and pressure symptoms.

There are two categories of hysterectomy:

• TOTAL HYSTERECTOMY is removal of the entire uterus, including the cervix (the lower part of the uterus)
• SUPRA-CERVICAL HYSTERECTOMY is removal of the upper part of the uterus, but not the cervix. This type of surgery is not recommended for women with a history of an abnormal Pap smear or certain types of pelvic pain. Up to 5-10% of women may continue to have chronic cyclic bleeding after surgery, similar to a period. It was previously thought that a supra-cervical hysterectomy would preserve sexual function better than a total hysterectomy, but research does not support this theory. Benefits to supra-cervical hysterectomy include slightly faster surgery and shorter recovery time.

Several surgical approaches may be used to perform a HYSTERECTOMY.