|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
A hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. Surgical removal of the
ovaries (called an oophorectomy) is often performed at the same time as a
hysterectomy. However, for many women undergoing a hysterectomy, there is no
need to remove the ovaries. As with all decisions about surgery, the decision
to have a hysterectomy (or oophorectomy), as well as the type of hysterectomy
that might be most appropriate for your condition, should be discussed with
your doctor.
|
|
Anatomy of the Uterus
A woman’s uterus is where a baby grows when a woman is pregnant. Understanding
the anatomy of the uterus may be helpful to you when discussing treatment
options such as a hysterectomy with your doctor.
The average adult uterus is the size and shape of an upside-down pear, and
weighs about six ounces. If measured, it would span about three to four inches
from top to bottom and about two inches from side to side.
|
 | |
|
The uterus is just one part of the female reproductive system. Other parts
include the vagina, the ovaries, and the fallopian tubes. See the glossary
below to learn about the female reproductive system and its parts:
-
The ovaries are the organs that produce and contain eggs. Working with the
brain and the central nervous system, the ovaries also control your hormonal
cycle. They play a part in the release of the hormone estrogen, which sparks
the start of the menstrual cycle and the release of one egg per month until
menopause.
-
The fallopian tubes are the tubes that eggs travel through as they move from
the ovaries to the uterus.
-
The fundus is the top of the uterus.
-
The body of the uterus is where the fertilized egg is normally implanted and
nourished as it grows during pregnancy.
-
The endometrium is the mucous membrane that lines the inside of the uterus and
is shed during menstruation.
-
The myometrium is the muscular wall that forms the main mass of the uterus.
-
The cervix, which narrows towards the bottom, is the lower portion of the
uterus and connects the uterus to the vagina.
-
The vagina, or birth canal, is the passage from the uterus to the genital
area. The vagina is made of muscle that can expand to allow the baby to pass
through during birth.
|
|
 |
|
Find a Physician
To locate a surgeon in your area who is experienced with Minimally Invasive
Procedures (MIP) for hysterectomy, click here
.
|
|
|
Types of Hysterectomies
Depending on your specific condition, your surgeon may feel that you need to
have your uterus and ovaries removed; in other cases your surgeon may feel
that only the uterus needs to be removed. The glossary below describes the
different types of hysterectomies. You should understand them before you and
your doctor decide which one is appropriate for your condition:
-
A partial or supracervical hysterectomy involves the removal of the upper part
of the uterus, but not the cervix. Because the cervix is left in place, it is
still at risk for cervical cancer, so regular pap screening is still needed.
-
A radical hysterectomy involves the removal of the cervix, the uterus, the
upper part of the vagina, and supporting tissues, including the lymph nodes.
This type of hysterectomy is usually performed when cervical cancer is present.
|
|
How Hysterectomies May Be Performed
It used to be that a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), or the removal of the
uterus and cervix through a large abdominal incision, was the only type of
hysterectomy available to women. But today the development of improved
surgical devices and innovative techniques, such as Minimally Invasive
Procedures (MIP), allow for less-invasive procedures, shorter hospital stays,
and reduced recovery times.38
Find out more about the differences
between open surgery and MIP for hysterectomy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
