Hysterectomy Treatment Options
What is a Hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy—the surgical removal of the uterus—is often recommended to treat symptoms caused by certain common, benign gynecologic conditions. Conditions such as fibroids (growths in and/or around the uterus), endometriosis (uterine lining growing outside the uterus), adenomyosis (uterine lining grows into the wall of the uterus), or pelvic prolapse (slipping of the uterus, vagina, or bladder) can cause pain, heavy bleeding, and other symptoms. When symptoms are severe, hysterectomy is recommended.
Frequently Asked Questions
My doctor has recommended a hysterectomy. What are my Surgical options?
There are a few common procedures to remove the uterus. A hysterectomy can be performed by removing the uterus through the vagina, but if the uterus is large or there is internal scarring from previous procedures or conditions, an abdominal hysterectomy may be necessary. Abdominal hysterectomy is an open surgery, requiring a large incision and a recovery time of 4 to 6 weeks. A hysterectomy can also be performed laparoscopically to remove the uterus through the abdomen, but laparoscopic instruments are long-handled and rigid, making this procedure challenging and complex.
Can robotic surgery help me?
A robot-assisted hysterectomy gives women a minimally invasive option that offers benefits over both traditional open surgery and laparoscopy. Due to the enhanced vision, precision, dexterity, and control the robotic surgical system provides, the potential benefits of a robot-assisted hysterectomy include less blood loss, fewer complications, a shorter hospital stay, minimal scarring, and less need for narcotic pain medication.
Dr. Chun is a hysterectomy doctor in Boston and performs robot-assisted hysterectomies at Winchester Hospital, a part of Lahey Health. If you would like more information about a robot-assisted hysterectomy or your other surgical options, call to make an appointment with Dr. Chun at 781-404-6923.
Are there risks?
As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur but are extremely rare. Risks associated with hysterectomy vary in frequency according to the type of surgical method employed. The risks include infection, damage to the bowel, bladder, or other tissues in the pelvis, bleeding, blood clots, pain, and complication from anesthesia.
What should I expect during recovery after a hysterectomy?
After surgery, you will rest and recover in the waiting room or post-anesthesia care unit for a few hours before you are given a space in the hospital or discharged. Your hospital stay and recovery time will depend on the method of your surgery. While in the hospital the medical staff will explain your surgical aftercare, including signs of infection and how soon you may return to your normal activities. Generally, you will be ordered not to lift anything greater than 10 pounds for 4-6 weeks. In addition, you cannot insert anything vaginally for 4-6 weeks. You will experience some bleeding, though bleeding saturating more than one pad per hour warrants a call to your doctor. If your doctor used stitches to seal an incision site during a vaginal hysterectomy, you may experience some bleeding 14 days after the surgery when the stitches start to fall out. This is nothing to be concerned about unless the bleeding saturates more than one pad per hour.
You will be advised to call your doctor if any of the following signs of infection occur: a temperature of 101 degrees Fahrenheit or greater, severe abdominal pain at the site of the surgery, bleeding from the incision site that does not improve after 12 hours of applying bandages and pressure, or thick, pus-like discharge from your incision site, vaginal bleeding saturating more than one pad per hour, or foul-smelling discharge from the vagina. You should also contact your doctor if you experience any other symptom that concerns you.