Histerectomy (hysterectomy)

Histerectomy is a large surgical operation in which the entire uterus is removed. As with a tubal litigation, it is an operation performed to sterilize the woman, but the hysterectomy is not always only done for this purpose.

The operation can have several different denominations such as supracervical histerectomy, radical hysterectomy, vaginal or abdominal hysterectomy and removal of the uterus. This is a very common operation that is performed through either abdominal incision (called abdominal hysterectomy), vaginal incisions (this is called vaginal hysterectomy), or via small laparoscopic incisions (small cuts on the abdomen, this is called a laparoscopic hysterectomy).

The histerectomy operation (hysterectomy) removes the whole womb (uterus) and as this is where the fetus is kept during a pregnancy, the operation is a sterilization of the woman. In some cases the operation is taken further and will include the removal of the fallopian tubes as well as the ovaries, all located in the lower abdomen. The main purpose behind the ovaries is to supply hormones and eggs and the fallopian tubes are there to make sure that the eggs are transported from the ovaries to the uterus.

Reasons for a hysterectomy

• Cervix cancer
• Ovary cancer
• Cervical dysplasia (precancerous)
• Uterus cancer or uterus prolapsing
  
• Endometrial cancer
• Vaginal bleedings
• Uncontrollable bleeding during labor and birth
  

Histerectomy recovery 

Usually, a patient will recover fully from a histerectomy. The removal of uterus and ovaries will however force the patient into menopause immediately which may call for estrogen therapy. Patients often worry about changes in their sexual functions but research has shown that it usually doesn't change much - if it was good before surgery, it will remain so, and the other way around.  

Recovery after the surgery will normally require between a few weeks up to a few months. If the surgery was a vaginal or a laparoscopic histerectomy, recovery will be quicker than if it was abdominal. It may be necessary to keep a catheter for a few days after the operation to assist the bladder and there are often both oral and intravenous medication given for a while after the operation in order to control the pain. It is recommended to start a low level of exercise as soon as possible, it may be simple things like walking in the home etc but nothing heavier. Any heavy lifts and sexual intercourse should be avoided for at least a few months following a hysterectomy.

Hysterectomy (histerectomy) types

The operation comes in two main versions, either the partial (supracervical) in which the upper part of the uterus is removed but not the cervix - this is the least common type - and the full histerectomy, removing both uterus and cervix. There is a third vairety of hysterectomy which is called the radical histerectomy. The radical version removes uterus, vagina upper tissues and parts plus the cervix, an operation sometimes required in order to remove cancer tumors. Removal of the two fallopian tubes is also common, or sometimes only one of them. The surgery can be done either via the abdomen or the vagina.

When and if the ovaries are removed, the patient will immediately arrive at the menopause stage, completely independent of what physical age the patient is. The monthly period will also cease even if the patient has not reached the menopause yet.

Hysterectomy is the second most common surgery on women in the US (the number one on that list is the cesarian section). In the US, over 500,000 histerectomy operations are performed every year.