Each year in the United States, over 600,000 hysterectomies are performed, and approximately 90% of them are unwarranted. With the exception of cancer, most other conditions that are treated with hysterectomy have alternative, less-invasive solutions available.
A total hysterectomy is the most commonly performed and is done to completely remove a woman’s uterus and cervix. It is usually recommended by their OB/GYN as a treatment for various medical conditions, such as uterine fibroids, endometriosis, adenomyosis, and certain types of cancer.
Different techniques can be used to perform a total hysterectomy, and today we are going to provide a quick overview of these and also go over some of their lasting side effects. We will also tell you about a non-surgical treatment that is available and effective for treating uterine fibroid symptoms and adenomyosis.
What Are The Types Of Total Hysterectomy?
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy
In a total abdominal hysterectomy, the surgeon makes a horizontal or vertical incision in the lower part of the abdomen to access and remove the uterus and cervix. This technique requires the longest recovery period of six to eight weeks because of the longer incision and usually requires a 2- to 4-day stay in the hospital.
Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
During a total laparoscopic hysterectomy, the surgeon makes a few small incisions in the abdomen. A laparoscope (a thin medical device with a light and a camera) along with other small surgical instruments are used to remove the uterus and cervix through these small incisions. The surgeon’s progress is guided by the live video that is streaming from the laparoscopic camera onto a screen that is next to them. Sometimes patients are discharged the same day, but many spend at least one night in the hospital. The average recovery time is between 4 and 6 weeks.
Total Vaginal Hysterectomy
A total vaginal hysterectomy involves the removal of the uterus and cervix through an incision made in the vagina. The surgeon does not make any external incisions, so the procedure does not leave any visible scarring. Patients may have to spend a night in the hospital, and recovery usually takes between 4 and 6 weeks.
Why Would A Woman Undergo Total Hysterectomy Surgery?
There are several conditions that may cause your OB/GYN to recommend a total hysterectomy as a viable treatment, including:
Chronic Symptoms
Ongoing symptoms such as heavy or abnormal bleeding, severe pelvic pain, etc. can be caused by many different women’s reproductive health issues. Depending on the root cause of the symptoms you are experiencing, your doctor may suggest a total hysterectomy. Some of the conditions that can create these symptoms include:
- Uterine fibroids;
- Endometriosis;
- Adenomyosis;
- Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID).
Uterine Prolapse
Sometimes, as a result of multiple vaginal births, obesity, or aging, it can weaken the tissues that support the uterus and the wall of the vagina. The uterus begins to droop and shift downward into the vaginal cavity. This is more common in menopausal women over the age of 50.
Cancer or Pre-cancer
If the doctor is concerned about uterine, ovarian, cervical, or another woman’s reproductive cancer, a total hysterectomy may be life-saving.
Total Hysterectomy Surgery Is Not Always The Best Answer
Hysterectomy surgery should only be offered as a first-line treatment in cases of cancer or medical emergencies. Aside from the surgery causing sterilization, it has also been linked to adverse long-term side effects.
It was once thought that a woman’s uterus was solely for reproduction, but recent research has revealed that the uterus affects a woman’s health in other ways too. Studies have shown connections between the uterus and coronary health and that women who have undergone a hysterectomy, especially before menopause, have an increased risk of experiencing heart disease and stroke.
Additionally, links between the uterus and mental health have been discovered and manifested as increased anxiety, depression, issues with spatial memory, increased risk for Parkinson’s disease, etc. Many women have ongoing issues with sexual dysfunction after undergoing a hysterectomy and begin to age more rapidly.
A hysterectomy should only be considered if there are no other options available.
Uterine Fibroids And Their Relationship With A Total Hysterectomy
Uterine fibroids are benign growths that can form in and on the uterus and are one of the most common reproductive conditions women face today. In fact, experts tell us that almost 80% of women in the United States will have experienced fibroids before the age of 50.
Many women do not experience any symptoms and, therefore, don’t even know they have fibroids. Some women have such bad fibroid symptoms that it debilitates them and makes it difficult for them to manage daily responsibilities at home and work. Fibroid symptoms can interfere with their personal relationships as well as hinder their career. Eventually, they seek treatment from their OB/GYN so they can find relief from these symptoms.
Women Are Offered Treatments That Only Treat Symptoms Or Are Invasive
Depending on the nature of their symptoms, they may be given the option of oral medications, invasive ablation, or surgery as treatment options. Oral medications may or may not relieve symptoms, and many cannot be used long-term. Ablation procedures may alleviate heavy bleeding temporarily, but they do not eliminate fibroids, and they cause permanent infertility. Surgical options include myomectomy, which involves a surgeon attempting to cut out the fibroids one at a time, or hysterectomy, which removes the entire uterus.
At the Atlanta Fibroid Center, we see many women who have had multiple myomectomies, but their fibroids keep returning. This happens because fibroids can be of different sizes and located in different parts of the uterus; they can be deeply embedded into the uterine wall and very hard to access. Many times, the surgeon is unable to remove the entire fibroid, leading to its regrowth and reoccurrence later.
Myomectomy surgery also often compromises the uterus because the removal of fibroids leaves holes that need to be repaired. Many women who have had myomectomies find out later that they must have a C-section if they ever become pregnant to prevent uterine rupture during childbirth. Also, women must sign a consent form before a myomectomy stating that if anything goes wrong or the surgeon encounters the unexpected, they can proceed with a hysterectomy if necessary.
What Treatment Is The Best For Eliminating Uterine Fibroids?
When women seek help alleviating their fibroid symptoms, they are often only given the options for treatment that their OB/GYN can perform. The Atlanta Fibroid Center offers a safer, more effective, non-surgical treatment for fibroids that can be completed in under an hour.
Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is performed by an interventional radiologist that has been specially trained to target the small blood vessels that are keeping the fibroids alive. Fibroids, like parasites, attach themselves to the uterine artery through a series of tiny blood vessels, which they use to divert the blood they need to live and grow. The UFE procedure blocks these tiny blood vessels, cutting off the fibroids’ blood source, and causing them to shrink and die. As the fibroids shrink, the patient finds relief from their symptoms, and most women report life-changing results within 3 months of their UFE procedure.
UFE can target and eliminate all the fibroids, no matter where they’re located, how big they are, how numerous, or how deeply embedded they are. It leaves the uterus completely intact and uncompromised, and many women have become pregnant and had babies after having UFE. In fact, Dr. Lipman at the Atlanta Fibroid Center has an entire wall dedicated to adorable baby pictures and letters of thanks from previous patients who are now happy mothers.
Do You Need Help Eliminating Fibroid Symptoms Without Surgery?
Get in touch with the Atlanta Fibroid Center today and set up a consultation. These knowledgeable experts will explain the UFE procedure to you in detail and answer all your questions. UFE allows you to keep your uterus and your fertility while getting rid of the symptoms that are interfering with your quality of life. This outpatient procedure can get rid of your fibroids and also treat adenomyosis without a hospital stay or an extended recovery time. Most patients can return to most of their normal activities within a week. Contact us today!
