Hysterectomy is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States today. At Nova Women’s Health in North Reading, Massachusetts, esteemed board-certified OB/GYN Anju Nayar, MD, FACOG, offers all-encompassing women’s health care at every stage of life. There are minimally invasive hysterectomy approaches that can reduce your recovery time and smooth the healing process, so to learn more, call the office or book your appointment through online scheduling now.
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. A partial hysterectomy removes most of the uterus but leaves the cervix (the “neck” of the uterus) in place. A total hysterectomy includes both the uterus and the cervix.
Although hysterectomy only includes the uterus, some women may need another simultaneous procedure, such as an oophorectomy (to remove one or both ovaries) or a salpingectomy (to remove one or both fallopian tubes).
Nova Women’s Health might recommend a hysterectomy if you’ve already attempted nonsurgical treatment for a chronic gynecologic condition and didn’t get good results. Some of the most common reasons that women undergo hysterectomy today include:
Hysterectomy means you can’t carry a pregnancy in the future, so it’s a big decision. Nova Women’s Health can educate you about possible hysterectomy alternatives.
For example, uterine fibroids are the most common reason for hysterectomy today, but some women feel strongly about preserving their fertility and thus want to avoid it. Myomectomy is a procedure to remove fibroids without removing your uterus, so you can still have a baby.
Although a myomectomy can’t guarantee that your fibroids won’t come back, it can give you enough time to have a baby. You might then choose to have a hysterectomy if your fibroids return and you’re done with childbearing.
Nova Women’s Health prefers the minimally invasive surgery approach for hysterectomy whenever possible. Most women are good candidates for minimally invasive hysterectomy.
This type of hysterectomy features a few (usually three or less) half-inch incisions around the belly button area, a sharp contrast to the hip-to-hip incision used in “open” (traditional) hysterectomy.
A tiny camera and light source are positioned in one of the incisions, which collects images and projects them in real time on a monitor that the surgeon views. Long and thin surgical tools fit through the other incisions, and the uterus is removed in small pieces through these incisions.
Minimally invasive hysterectomy reduces the risk of infection after surgery. Scars are much smaller, and pain is greatly reduced compared to open surgery. This leads to a faster return to your normal activities and a reduced need for pain medication as you recover.
To learn more about minimally invasive hysterectomy, call Nova Women’s Health or book your appointment online now.