Skip to Main Content

Hysterectomy

About Hysterectomy

There are many types of hysterectomy, partial or total are the most common. 

There are many types of hysterectomy, partial, removing only the body of the uterus, or total, removing the entire uterus and cervix, are the two most common.One or both varies and or fallopian tubes may be removed at the same time if needed and in accordance with patient desires. A radical hysterectomy, when a surgeon removes the entire uterus, as well as additional vaginal tissue and part of the vagina, is generally reserved for treatment of certain cancer diagnoses. Since a hysterectomy ends menstruation and the ability to become pregnant, it may be the best treatment option for women with uterine problems who are no longer of childbearing age. Hysterectomy may be offered to treat a wide variety of gynecological medical conditions including cancer, fibroids, adenomyosis, uterine prolapse, endometriosis, abnormal vaginal bleeding, or chronic pelvic pain. Women who plan to expand their family should exhaust all other treatment approaches before considering a hysterectomy as some alternatives to hysterectomy may exist for their condition. However, this may be the best surgical option for their medical condition.

Types of Hysterectomy

Supracervical hysterectomy - removal of the upper part of the uterus leaving the cervix behind.
Total hysterectomy - removal of the uterus and cervix.
Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy - the removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes (s)alpingo and ovaries (o)ophor. The removal of both ovaries will initiate menopause, since your body can no longer produce estrogen.
Radical hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy - the removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, the upper portion of the vagina and some surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. A radical hysterectomy may be performed to treat early cervical or very advanced uterine cancer.

Minimally Invasive da Vinci Hysterectomy

Utilizing robotic surgical techniques, surgeons have the ability to perform a hysterectomy in a minimally invasive manner (without having to open the patient). Minimally invasive hysterectomy has been extended for use in almost all patients with the use of the da Vinci robot because this tool helps surgeons overcome many of the obstacles that caused gynecologists to resort to the traditional open surgery. Therefore even patients with a very large uterus, extensive endometriosis, multiple prior C-section, previous surgeries or other issues that make hysterectomy difficult have the option of having minimally invasive surgery and get better quickly

For many women the da Vinci hysterectomy offers numerous potential benefits over traditional surgical approaches, including:

  • Less blood loss and need for transfusion
  • Less risk of infection
  • Less risk of complications
  • Quicker recovery and return to normal activities
  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Significantly less pain
  • Small incisions with minimal scarring

Find a  Gynecology Surgeon

Visit Dignity Health Medical Group - Saint Francis/St. Mary's to find the doctor that's right for you or use our search tool to Find A Doctor.