Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove a woman’s womb or uterus. Doctors remove the cervix, ovaries, and fallopian tubes in a Hysterectomy surgery. Women with uterine cancer, pelvic pain, and heavy and irregular menstrual cycle undergo Hysterectomy.
The uterus is a hollow muscular organ that nourishes the fetus during pregnancy. The uterine lining is the source of menstrual blood. Expert gynaecologists will assist with the correct diagnosis and treatment.
A hysterectomy can be performed successfully in many ways:
- Total Abdominal Hysterectomy
- Vaginal Hysterectomy
- Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
- Robot-Assisted Hysterectomy
- An Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery.
Diagnosis: Why Should A Hysterectomy Be Done?
A patient has to undergo a hysterectomy if these symptoms arise:
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Uncontrollable bleeding of the vagina
- Cervical cancer
- Uterine cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Uterine fibroids
- Fibroids are benign tumours in the uterus
- Pelvic inflammatory disease, a disease in the reproductive organs
- Pelvic prolapse is a condition when the uterus drops through the cervix and protrudes from the vagina.
- Endometriosis is a disorder in which the inner lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterine cavity
- Adenomyosis is a condition in which the inner lining of the uterus grows into the muscles of the uterus
- Uterine bleeding, caused after pregnancy
- Heavy periods or Menorrhagia
- Colon or bladder cancer that has spread to the uterus
How Is It Performed?
The uterus is removed through an incision in the abdomen or the vagina. Abdominal hysterectomies are done for cancer or large fibroids, whereas vaginal hysterectomies are performed when the uterus is small. In Laparoscopic Hysterectomy, a tiny incision in the abdomen is made with an instrument.
A hysterectomy can be done in many ways depending upon the complications. All the methods require an anaesthetic. An anaesthetic will put you to sleep throughout the procedure, so you don’t feel any pain.
3 Types of Hysterectomy Surgery
Abdominal Hysterectomy: A doctor removes the uterus through a large cut made in your abdomen. The incision may be vertical or horizontal.
Vaginal Hysterectomy: A small incision is made inside the vagina, and the uterus is removed. There are no external cuts, so no scars.
Laparoscopic Hysterectomy: The gynaecologist uses a tiny instrument called a laparoscope, a long, thin tube with a high-intensity light and a high-resolution camera at the front. The tool is inserted through incisions in the abdomen. Instead of one big incision, three or four small incisions are made. The surgeon finds the uterus through the camera, cuts the uterus into small pieces, and removes the elements one by one at a time.
Preparation For The Surgery:
The patient will need to stop taking all the prescribed medicines three days before the procedure. You should not eat or drink anything after midnight on the day of the surgery. An antibiotic is prescribed to help prevent any bacterial infection.
Aftercare
After the surgery, the patient will be asked to walk. Some pain killers will be prescribed. Abdominal scars will heal but will be visible. The patient will have vaginal bleeding for one or two weeks, stopping gradually. You have to stay in the hospital for about 3 to 5 days. The catheter will be removed once you are customary to resume all the activities efficiently
The Possible Complications:
Hysterectomy results in infertility, and this feeling causes emotional distress in some women. A woman with a Hysterectomy surgery will never have menstrual bleeding. If the ovaries are intact after the surgery, a woman can experience hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Hysterectomy has some risks, but the problems are minor. They include:
- Fever and infection following surgery
- Urinary tract infection or discomfort
- Heavy bleeding around the incision site
- Menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and vaginal dryness
- Bowel obstruction
- Depression or other emotional problems
- Pain or discomfort during intercourse
- Loss of sexual pleasure or loss of interest in intercourse
- Haemorrhage
- Problems with urination, a feeling of having to urinate
- Life-threatening cardiopulmonary events such as a heart attack
- An emotional loss like a sense of loss of the uterus or ovaries leads to emotional stress, anger, depression, or anxiety
- A diminished sense of femininity, attractiveness
- Anxiety about sexual functioning
- Lymphedema is a buildup of fluid in the legs or abdomen
- Weakness of muscles or ligaments that support the vagina, bladder, and rectum
- Vaginal shortening
- Intestinal blockage caused by scar tissue
Recovering From A Hysterectomy
A hysterectomy is major surgery. It takes about some months to heal completely. A hysterectomy is a safe surgery if done under expert guidance at some of the best general surgery hospitals. Talk to the doctors about your complications, and they will guide you accordingly.
You can resume everyday conjugal life after your Hysterectomy. Depression-like symptoms or other mental health problems can be sorted out by talking to your spouse and friends or consulting a psychologist who will guide you through your emotional difficulties before or after surgery.