What exactly is a hysterectomy?
A surgical procedure involves the removal of the entire uterus or a portion of it.
Types of Hysterectomy
There are several different kinds of hysterectomy. The purpose for your surgery and the amount of your womb and associated reproductive system that can be safely preserved will decide the type of surgery you receive.
The following are the most common types of hysterectomy:
Total hysterectomy: in which the womb and cervix are removed; this is the most often performed procedure.
Subtotal hysterectomy: in this procedure, the main body of the womb is removed, but the cervix remains intact.
Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: in this procedure, the womb, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries are removed along with the rest of the reproductive organs.
A radical hysterectomy: is a surgical procedure in which the womb and associated tissues are removed, including the fallopian tubes, a portion of the vaginal wall, the ovaries, lymph glands, and fatty tissue, among other things.
Procedure
There are three techniques to execute a hysterectomy:
- A laparoscopic hysterectomy: An abdominal sequence of small cuts is used to perform a laparoscopic hysterectomy
A laparoscope (a small telescope) and a tiny video camera are placed into your abdomen through a small cut (an incision). So that your inside organs can be seen by the surgeon. The womb, cervix, and other reproductive organs are then removed by inserting instruments into other minor incisions in your belly or vagina. Patients are typically sedated during laparoscopic hysterectomies.
2. Vaginal Hysterectomy: Hysterectomy through the urethra
Photo credit: Healthline
An incision is made at the top of the vagina to remove the cervix and womb during a vaginal hysterectomy. Instruments are used to remove the uterus from ligaments that hold it in place through the vagina. A cut at the very top of the vaginal canal is used to remove the womb during a vaginal hysterectomy. It is the primary method of removing the reproductive organs and their associated tissues.
The incision will be stitched up once the uterus and cervix have been removed. It normally takes around an hour for the procedure to be completed. Most women choose the vaginal procedure over the abdominal procedure because of the shorter hospital stay, as well as the lower risk of complications. The time it takes to heal is also shorter.
3. Surgical removal of the abdomen (Abdominal Hysterectomy)
An abdominal hysterectomy necessitates the creation of an incision in the abdomen (abdomen). Your belly button to your bikini line will be the starting point for the vertical cut.
For big fibroids (non-cancerous growths) or certain forms of malignancy, a vertical incision is typically employed.
It is sewn up once your womb has been removed. There is a general anesthetic used throughout the procedure, which lasts for roughly an hour.
You might need an abdominal hysterectomy if you have fibroids or other pelvic tumors that make it impossible to remove your womb through your vaginal passages.
Also, you might want to consider it if you’re having your ovaries removed.
Complications of Hysterectomy
Any type of surgery has the potential to cause damage to blood arteries, nerves, and other vital organ systems. This includes a hysterectomy. Women recovering after surgery may have discomfort, constipation, or difficulty emptying their bladder during the first several days.
It is impossible to become pregnant after a hysterectomy. As a result, menstrual cycles are also halted. Even though the cervix and ovaries are not removed, there may be some little bleeding.
Menopause will begin immediately following the operation if the ovaries are also removed. Hot flashes, mood changes, and vaginal dryness are all possible side effects of using this medication.
The effects on a woman’s sexual life after the womb are removed will be determined by the symptoms she was experiencing before the treatment.
Other Side Effects of Hysterectomy
Bleeding: Having a hysterectomy comes with a minor risk of excessive bleeding. You may need a blood transfusion if you are bleeding heavily.
Damage to the ureter: During surgery, the ureter (the tube through which urine travels) may be injured.
Approximately one in every hundred instances. During a hysterectomy, this is usually fixed.
Injuries to the bladder or bowels: Abdominal organs like the bladder may be damaged in rare situations.
Infection: Infection is almost always a possibility following surgery. An infection of the urinary tract or the incision could be the cause of this.
Antibiotics work well to alleviate the symptoms, so they are not normally a cause for alarm.
Recovering from Hysterectomy
Any type of surgery has the potential to cause damage to blood arteries, nerves, and other vital organ systems. This includes a hysterectomy. Approximately 5 out of every 100 women suffer from these issues. Women recovering after surgery may have discomfort, constipation, or difficulty emptying their bladder during the first several days.
It is impossible to become pregnant after a hysterectomy. As a result, menstrual cycles are also halted. Even though the cervix and ovaries are not removed, there may be some little bleeding.
Menopause will begin immediately following the operation if indeed the ovaries are removed. Hot flashes, mood changes, and vaginal dryness are all possible side effects of using this medication.
The effects on a woman’s sexual life after the womb are removed will be determined by the symptoms she was experiencing before the treatment.
In Conclusion, When sterilization, cancer concern, and untreated pelvic pain were major reasons for a hysterectomy in the past, the surgery has changed immensely. Hysterectomy has not been well established as a treatment for mild uterine disorders, in part because of a paucity of data on how hysterectomy and other medicinal and surgical treatments for these conditions fare. Studies currently underway should provide more rational reasons for hysterectomy for mild illnesses by evaluating the outcomes that are important to patients, including alleviation of symptoms, long-term consequences, and impacts on the quality of life. However, these guidelines are not without flaws and we realize that they may not be applicable in all clinical scenarios based on the current information base.
Patients’ preferences take precedence when there is insufficient clinical data to sustain a consensus on treatment recommendations. With regard to hysterectomy, which is typically performed to alleviate symptoms and promote healthy lifestyles, the patient’s views concerning treatment options must be taken into account.