What is a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus or womb. It’s the second most-performed surgery for women, after a cesarean section (C-section).
What are the types of hysterectomy?
There are three basic types of hysterectomies.
Supracervical (subtotal or partial) hysterectomy
By removing the uterus while leaving the cervix in place, a supracervical hysterectomy may help reduce the risk of pelvic floor prolapse and preserve sexual function. Dr. Brown may or may not remove your ovaries and fallopian tubes, and the recovery can be easier than with a total hysterectomy.
Total (traditional) hysterectomy
In a total hysterectomy, Dr. Brown removes your uterus and cervix while your ovaries and fallopian tubes may or may not be removed.
Radical hysterectomy
For a radical hysterectomy, Dr. Brown removes your uterus, cervix, and some of your pelvic lymph nodes. The ovaries and fallopian tubes may or may not be removed. Dr. Brown recommends a radical hysterectomy to treat some cancers of the uterus or cervix.
When appropriate, Dr. Brown can remove the cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes during the same surgery, depending on the type of hysterectomy and the reason the surgery is being done.
When is a hysterectomy necessary?
There are many different reasons why you might need a hysterectomy, including:
- Uterine fibroids: Noncancerous growths that can develop in the uterus and cause bleeding, pain, and other problems
- Uterine prolapse: When the uterus moves into the vaginal canal
- Uterus cancer, cervix cancer, or cancer of the ovaries
- Endometriosis
- Abnormal bleeding or pelvic pain
- Adenomyosis: When the uterus thickens
Hysterectomy procedures are serious and the last resort for noncancerous problems.
What happens after my hysterectomy?
After the procedure, your body will need time to recover. Most women should wait to engage in sex or heavy lifting.
If your ovaries were removed, you will enter menopause due to the fluctuation in hormones. This can be difficult for women who would be generally younger than normal age to reach menopause because they will not be able to have children after the surgery.
However, many women will find relief from heavy periods or severe pain after the procedure and have great results.
Call the office or schedule an appointment online today to talk to Dr. Brown and the team to see if a hysterectomy can help you.
