
Certain symptoms that arise from uterine pathology can become severe and debilitating. Chronic pain, abnormal bleeding, anemia and bowel or bladder dysfunction are common in women suffering from severe uterine pathology, like fibroids, polyps or adenomyosis. Many times there are minor office or outpatient procedures to remedy the condition, but if these treatments fail, removing the uterus can solve the problem, eliminating pain and bleeding.
At Physicians for Women — Melius, Schurr & Cardwell in Madison, Wisconsin, our team of OB-GYN specialists can help determine if a hysterectomy is an option you should consider.
Hysterectomies are more common than you might think; they’re the second-most common surgery performed by OB-GYNs after Cesarean section delivery. Hysterectomy is a generalized term. Several modifications of the surgery exist. The type of hysterectomy chosen takes into account your health and past medical and surgical histories in order to accomplish the removal of your uterus as safely as possible.
A Total hysterectomy involves removing the entire uterus and the cervix. Supracervical hysterectomy only removes the upper part of the uterus, leaving the cervix intact. Abdominal, vaginal, laparoscopic and robotic are all different surgical approaches to a total hysterectomy. A supracervical hysterectomy, which is often selected as a way to preserve the supportive system of the pelvic floor, can be approached abdominally, laparoscopically or robotically. Sometimes removal of the fallopian tubes and ovaries (called a bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) is needed as well, as a part of the hysterectomy surgery..
All of our Board-Certified OB-GYNs at Physicians for Women counsel their patients extensively on their surgical treatment options, including the type and surgical approach to hysterectomy, if recommended. We also discuss the surgical risks of each option.
A hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure. It is performed in the hospital Operating Suite with an Anesthesiologist providing general anesthesia and one, sometimes two, of our OB-GYNs operating together, to perform the surgery. By removing the uterus, the procedure addresses many uterine conditions that often result in a restoration of your health, allowing you more freedom, and occasionally even saving your life in situations where cancer, profound anemia or infection is a present. Here are six of the most common conditions that may warrant hysterectomy:
If you’ve questions about these conditions and need more information about hysterectomy. Call our office 608-218-4835, or book an appointment online with one of our OB-GYNs.