{ Specialized Womens Care

Hysterectomy Options

Having a hysterectomy is seldom an easy decision for any woman. You probably have questions about the actual procedure, how it is performed, possible physical and emotional side effects, recovery time and how it might impact your life after recovery.

A hysterectomy – surgical removal of part or all of the uterus – is one of the most common surgeries performed on women. Doctors often recommend hysterectomies to treat a number of conditions that have not responded to other treatments first. One in four women require the surgery by age 60, and more than 600,000 hysterectomies are performed in the U.S. each year.

1. There are many reasons why a woman would need a hysterectomy:
   • Uterine fibroids
   • Endometriosis
   • Pelvic support problems (such as uterine prolapse)
   • Abnormal uterine bleeding
   • Cancer
   • Chronic pelvic pain
   
   
2. And there are several types of hysterectomies:
   • Subtotal – also called partial or supracervical – which leaves the cervix in place while removing the upper part of the uterus.
   • Total, which removes the entire uterus and cervix.
   • Radial, which removes the entire uterus, cervix and the support structures around the uterus (this is done if certain types of cancer are present.)
   
   
3. A hysterectomy can be performed several different ways, depending on the reason for having one.
   • Abdominal – the doctor makes an incision in the lower abdomen to remove the uterus. Abdominal hysterectomies typically have longer recovery times than the other types of hysterectomies, but give the surgeon a good view of a woman's uterus and surrounding organs. A doctor may recommend this type if large tumors or cancer are present.
   • Vaginal – the hysterectomy is performed through an incision inside the vagina, leading to no abdominal scarring and typically shorter recovery times than an abdominal hysterectomy.
   • Laparoscopically Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy – similar to a vaginal hysterectomy, the doctor removes the entire uterus through the vagina with the aid of a small, light-transmitting device called a laparoscope. The device is put into the abdomen through a small incision, allowing Dr. Gorman to more fully see the organs surrounding the uterus. An LAVH typically takes longer than a vaginial hysterectomy, but has similiar recovery times.
   • Laparoscopic Supracervical Hysterectomy - the hysterectomy is performed through small incisions in the abdomen with a laparoscope. Unlike other hysterectomies, the cervix is left intact and only the abnormal part of the uterus is removed. LSH has the shortest recovery times.

Dr. Susan Gorman is trained to perform all types of hysterectomies and is the only surgeon in Central Oregon offering laparoscopic hysterectomies. Call The Women's Center and schedule an appointment to discuss hysterectomy options with Dr. Gorman.