Hysterectomy

What women need to know about the hysterectomy procedure

Our Austin and Dripping Springs OBGYNs expertly diagnose women’s conditions, allowing us to make informed decisions about whether or not a patient needs a hysterectomy. When patients have certain conditions, such as cancer or severe endometriosis, hysterectomies may be medically necessary for symptom relief and improved health. In the past, this type of gynecologic surgery required an abdominal incision and a long recovery, but today, most of the time, hysterectomies are minimally invasive surgeries.

Our Austin and Dripping Springs OBGYNs perform hysterectomies to treat a variety of problems

There are many reasons why a woman may need a hysterectomy to remove her uterus, and sometimes other organs, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. These conditions don’t always require surgery, but women with the following problems may need to have hysterectomies.

• Abnormal uterine bleeding

• Unusually heavy or abnormal vaginal bleeding

• Uterine fibroids

• Endometriosis or other pelvic support issues

• Uterine prolapse

• Chronic pelvic pain

• Gynecologic cancers, including cancer of the cervix, uterus, ovaries or the endometrium, which is the uterine lining

There are three different types of hysterectomies

A woman’s problems determine which organs and tissues our surgeons need to remove from the reproductive system.

• During partial hysterectomies, our surgeons remove the upper part of the uterus, but leave the cervix intact. Sometimes, the physicians also need to remove the ovaries.

• Total hysterectomies are the most common type. Our surgeons remove the uterus and cervix, and they may need to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries, too.

• Women with gynecologic cancers or other serious conditions may need radical hysterectomies. During this type of hysterectomy, our surgeons remove the entire uterus and cervix, as well as tissue in the upper area of the vagina. In some cases, our physicians also remove women’s ovaries and fallopian tubes.

How our surgeons perform a hysterectomy

Fortunately, virtually all of the hysterectomies our surgeons perform are minimally invasive. This type of gynecologic surgery has several benefits, including less bleeding, fewer complications, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays. Women can go home the same day after some types of hysterectomies. Our Austin and Dripping Springs OBGYNs do both vaginal and laparoscopic abdominal hysterectomies.

• Vaginal hysterectomies allow our surgeons to remove the uterus through the patient’s vagina, without making any abdominal incisions. Patients who have this procedure experience the fewest complications.

• Laparoscopic hysterectomies are minimally invasive, requiring a few very small incisions in the lower abdomen. The incisions allow our OBGYNs to insert surgical instruments into the abdominal cavity. They can remove the uterus through the abdomen by breaking it into pieces. Sometimes, surgeons remove the uterus vaginally during vaginal laparoscopic hysterectomies.

• In some cases, our OBGYNs perform robotic hysterectomies. Robots do not perform the surgery; instead, our surgeons control the procedure with the help of robotic tools.

In rare cases, some patients require abdominal surgery. Women who have adhesions or a very enlarged uterus may need a traditional surgical procedure.

Our OBGYNs expertly perform gynecologic surgery

No matter which type of surgery women need to get better, our surgeons possess the necessary experience and expertise to perform it. Our team will provide compassionate care before and after your hysterectomy. Contact us for an appointment and find out how we can help you move toward your best health.