Hysterectomy—Open Surgery Contributions by sshowalter

Hysterectomy is the surgical term for the removal of the uterus (womb). This results in the inability to become pregnant. The surgery may be done through the abdomen or the vagina. This is a common surgery in the United States.

This type of surgery can be:

• Partial or subtotal hysterectomy—removal of the uterus (without removing the cervix)
• Total, complete, or simple hysterectomy—removal of the uterus and cervix (the opening of the uterus leading to the vagina)
• Radical hysterectomy—removal of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, upper part of the vagina, and the pelvic lymph nodes
• Salpingo-oophorectomy —removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes (may be combined with any of the above procedures)

Hysterectomy is the surgical term for the removal of the uterus (womb). This results in the inability to become pregnant. The surgery may be done through the abdomen or the vagina. This is a common surgery in the United States.

This type of surgery can be:

• Partial or subtotal hysterectomy—removal of the uterus (without removing the cervix)
• Total, complete, or simple hysterectomy—removal of the uterus and cervix (the opening of the uterus leading to the vagina)
• Radical hysterectomy—removal of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, upper part of the vagina, and the pelvic lymph nodes
• Salpingo-oophorectomy —removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes (may be combined with any of the above procedures)

You may have a hysterectomy if your uterus is causing health problems that cannot be treated by other means. One common reason for having a hysterectomy is to treat cervical cancer.

Explore your options before having a hysterectomy as it is a major surgical procedure that is difficult to undergo. It should be used after other treatments have proven ineffective, and/or the cancer has spread.

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To read more on what to expect, visit our main Hysterectomy-Open Surgery page.

To read more on what to expect, visit our main Hysterectomy-Open Surgery page.

Click here to view an animated version of this procedure.

If you are planning to have hysterectomy, your doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Reactions to anesthesia
• Pain
• Infection
• Bleeding
• Fatigue
• Injured pelvic organs (bowel and/or bladder)
• Urinary incontinence (problems controlling your urine)
• Loss of ovarian function and early menopause
• Depression
• Sexual dysfunction

Some factors that may increase the risk of complications include:

• Obesity
• Smoking
• Heart or lung disease
• Diabetes
• Previous pelvic surgery or serious infection
• Use of prescription and nonprescription drugs during the past month

Be sure to discuss the risks with your doctor before surgery.

You may have a hysterectomy if your uterus is causing health problems that cannot be treated by other means. Some reasons a woman may have a hysterectomy are to:

• Treat cancers such as uterine, endometrial, or ovarian cancers
• Remove uterine fibroids —common, benign (noncancerous) tumors that grow in the muscle of the uterus
• Treat chronic pelvic pain
• Treat heavy bleeding

Explore your options before having a hysterectomy. There are other treatments for many of these problems.

You may have a hysterectomy if your uterus is causing health problems that cannot be treated by other means. One common reason for having a hysterectomy is to treat cervical cancer.

Explore your options before having a hysterectomy as it is a major surgical procedure that is difficult to undergo. It should be used after other treatments have proven ineffective, and/or the cancer has spread.