What is a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is a surgery to remove the uterus. There are a number of possible reasons for a hysterectomy, including:
- Uterine fibroids
- Endometriosis
- Uterine cancer
- Permanent birth control
- Pelvic pain
- Excessive bleeding
When is a hysterectomy the right choice?
This is a highly individual choice for each woman. For most women, a hysterectomy is chosen only after other, more conservative types of treatment have failed. For example, if you've already tried medication, hormones, and other minimally invasive procedures to resolve problems like severe endometriosis, and those treatments didn't work, hysterectomy may be the right choice. Hysterectomy is usually used only as a last resort because of its permanent nature.
After a hysterectomy, fertility comes to an end, so it's important that the patient is fully aware of this change and prepared for it. Dr. Lang is always there to support his patients and to help them consider all alternatives for their health issues before hysterectomy is chosen.
Are there different types of hysterectomy?
There are several kinds of hysterectomy available today. At Progressive Obstetrics & Gynecology, minimally invasive laparoscopic hysterectomies are the most common type of hysterectomy. Dr. Lang is highly trained in the area of minimally invasive surgeries and specializes in this type of procedure.
Laparoscopic hysterectomy can be done in 2 different ways: through the vagina or through the abdomen. In both cases, only very tiny incisions are needed. A laparoscope, an instrument that includes a miniature camera, is placed through one of the incisions. This camera relays images of the surgical area to a monitor nearby. Dr. Lang can then use several other tiny incisions to insert slender surgical instruments to perform the surgery.
How is a minimally invasive hysterectomy different from an open hysterectomy?
A minimally invasive hysterectomy performed via laparoscopy is significantly less invasive than an open hysterectomy. For an open hysterectomy, a long incision must be made in the abdomen, extending from hip to hip, to remove the uterus. For a laparoscopic hysterectomy, the incisions are only half an inch or less. During a laparoscopic hysterectomy, the patient will bleed less, because the incisions are so much smaller. Patients also have far less pain with a laparoscopic hysterectomy. While an open hysterectomy may require about 6 weeks of recovery time, a laparoscopic hysterectomy may require only 1-2 weeks of recovery time.
