Do you need a hysterectomy?
It is important to know your options when choosing the route and method of hysterectomy.
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure for removing the uterus. Some of the most common reasons for undergoing a hysterectomy include uterine fibroids, severe vaginal bleeding, uterine prolapse, endometriosis, and or chronic pelvic pain. A hysterectomy may also be performed to treat both cervical and uterine cancer.
Hysterectomy is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the United States. A hysterectomy can be performed vaginally, abdominally, or with laparoscopic or robotic assistance. When choosing which route and method is best for you, your physician will take a number of factors into consideration.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommend that the hysterectomy is ideally performed vaginally or laparoscopically, as they are less invasive, involve less risk of bleeding and infection, and require the least amount of recovery time. One of the benefits of the laparoscopic hysterectomy is that it helps the doctor to avoid abdominal hysterectomy in many cases. Laparoscopic hysterectomy also allows the surgeon full visibility of the pelvis, as compared to the vaginal approach.
It is recommended that abdominal hysterectomy be chosen as a last resort, when the vaginal or laparoscopic approaches are not feasible. Ultimately your physician will discuss your options and determine how a hysterectomy can be performed most safely to fulfill your medical needs. Dr. Zapata is a board-certified surgeon who is highly qualified and trained to perform all methods of hysterectomy, including robotically assisted hysterectomies.
Below is a comparison of the three most commonly performed hysterectomy options.
Reference:
Choosing the route of hysterectomy for benign disease. ACOG Committee Opinion No. 444. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Obstet Gynecol 2009;114:1156–8.