A hysterectomy is considered a major surgery and is usually performed in a hospital by a gynecologist. It can be considered whole or partial, but in all cases, it involves removing a woman’s entire uterus, which eliminates the possibility of a future pregnancy.
Every year in the United States alone, almost 600,000 hysterectomies are performed, and most are done to eliminate fibroid symptoms. While there are some cases where a hysterectomy is the only suitable form of treatment, today there is a much less invasive treatment for fibroids that will preserve a woman’s fertility.
Today, we are going to outline some of the pros and cons of hysterectomy and tell you about uterine fibroid embolization and how it works to eliminate fibroid symptoms without surgery.
What Is Involved In A Hysterectomy?
During a hysterectomy, the uterus is always removed, but in some cases, the cervix is left in place. Sometimes other reproductive organs are also removed, such as the ovaries or fallopian tubes. The different types of hysterectomy include:
- Total Hysterectomy involves the removal of the entire uterus, including the cervix;
- Partial or Subtotal Hysterectomy involves the removal of the upper part of the uterus, leaving the cervix in place;
- Radical Hysterectomy involves removing the entire uterus, the upper part of the vagina, and possibly the lymph nodes. This is normally done in the case of certain cancers.
The surgery can be performed using different techniques and will depend on the reason and extent of the surgery. The different techniques used include:
- Abdominal (Open) Hysterectomy: The uterus is removed through a longer incision made in the abdomen;
- Vaginal Hysterectomy: The uterus is removed through the vagina without any abdominal incisions;
- Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: This is less invasive than an abdominal hysterectomy, and the uterus is removed using four or five small incisions in the abdomen using a special medical device that has a camera, a light, and other specialized instruments;
- Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: The technique is the same as the laparoscopic hysterectomy, but the surgeon controls a set of robotic arms instead of performing the surgery manually, which provides more precision;
While the patient is under general anesthesia, the surgeon will use one of the surgical techniques mentioned above to access the uterus, detach it, and remove it from the surrounding structures. The cervix and other reproductive organs may also be removed if necessary, and then the surgeon will close the incisions.
The patient is then taken to a recovery area for a few hours of observation before they are taken to their hospital room or discharged to go home. The length of their hospital stay will depend on the type of hysterectomy and their health, ranging anywhere from a few hours to a few days.
They will be given pain medication and antibiotics to help alleviate discomfort and prevent infections. They will be given aftercare instructions regarding bathing, showering, lifting, and other activities they need to avoid during the next four to eight weeks of recovery.
Hysterectomy Pros
Prevents Recurrence Of Fibroid Symptoms
The main benefit of having a hysterectomy is that since it removes the uterus, it totally eliminates the possibility of fibroids growing back or new ones appearing. This eliminates the painful and debilitating symptoms that often disrupt a woman’s life.
Eliminates The Possibility Of Cancer
Totally removing the uterus removes the possibility of experiencing certain cancers.
Hysterectomy Cons
It Is A Major Surgery And Comes With Risks
A hysterectomy is the most invasive and drastic treatment for uterine fibroids and a major surgical procedure. About 3% of those who have this surgery experience serious complications, such as heavy bleeding, bowel or bladder injuries, pulmonary embolism, adverse reactions to anesthesia, wound reopening, and hematoma. Additionally, 10% to 15% of women who undergo a hysterectomy need blood transfusions.
It Requires Significant Recovery Time
A hysterectomy is a major surgery, so it requires a hospital stay of at least one night. Depending on the extent of the surgery and the technique used, a hysterectomy can require anywhere from one to three days or more in the hospital.
Recovering from this surgery can also take between 4 and 6 weeks and may impact your family financially. You will have activity restrictions that may require extended time off from your job or taking care of your family.
Eliminates Fertility
Fibroids are known to cause fertility and reproductive issues, but treating fibroids with a hysterectomy who have several childbearing years left is the number one cause of lost fertility in the U.S. Many women who undergo a hysterectomy to treat their fibroids feel like they have no other options for treatment but regret their decision later.
While fertility is never guaranteed with any fibroid treatment, many women have become pregnant and delivered full-term babies after having non-surgical uterine fibroid embolization and surgical myomectomies.
Hysterectomy Complications Years Later
Women who have hysterectomies can experience complications that they never expected, both immediately and years later. The uterus used to be thought of as a temporary organ that only had one function, but research has shown that it is tied to many other areas of a woman’s health and that all should be done to preserve it. Some of the lasting side effects associated with a hysterectomy include:
- Pelvic prolapse and urinary incontinence;
- Bowel issues;
- Sexual dysfunction;
- Premature aging;
- Depression, anxiety, and mental health issues;
- Problems with memory;
- Failure of the ovaries;
- Increased risk of Parkinson’s disease;
- Increased risk of Stroke;
- Increased risk of Coronary disease.
You Have Another Option Besides Surgery To Eliminate Uterine Fibroids
You do not have to choose between living with the symptoms of fibroids disrupting your quality of life or losing your uterus and your fertility. Not to mention, increasing your risk of all sorts of other serious health conditions. Uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) is a quick outpatient procedure that takes about 45 minutes and can get rid of fibroids without surgery or compromising your uterus.
You may be asking yourself, “How come my OB/GYN didn’t tell me about UFE?” We have lost count of the many times we have been asked this question, but the answer is that this procedure is not done by an OB/GYN but by a specially trained interventional radiologist, such as those at the Atlanta Fibroid Center.
How Does UFE Get Rid Of Fibroids Without Surgery?
Fibroids need a viable blood source to survive, so they grab onto one of the tiny blood vessels that are attached to the uterine artery and begin to divert blood away from where it needs to be going in order to sustain themselves. During the UFE procedure, the doctor injects special tiny particles into these blood vessels that block the flow of blood to the fibroids and redirect it back to where it should be flowing. The fibroids begin to shrink and die, which causes the symptoms they are causing to go away.
Best of all, you do not need to go to the hospital to have UFE; it is done right here at Atlanta Fibroid Center in our comfortable state-of-the-art facility. After the procedure, you will remain in your cozy room for a few hours of observation before being discharged into the care of a friend or family member to go home and rest. The doctor will send you home with antibiotics and some pain medication to help alleviate discomfort while the fibroids continue to die off. Most women recover within a week and can resume their normal work and home life schedules.
Would You Like To Find Out If UFE Can Prevent A Hysterectomy?
If you have been told you need a hysterectomy or a myomectomy to get rid of fibroids, you are most likely a candidate for uterine fibroid embolization (UFE). Contact the Atlanta Fibroid Center today and set up a consultation to learn more about the procedure and determine if UFE would benefit you. Skip the invasive surgery that leaves you with regrets and opt for non-surgical UFE, which is a better treatment for fibroids.
