In order to gain access to the inside of the body, surgeons sometimes choose to create a large incision because it provides an open view of the internal organs. This type of procedure is often called an “open procedure.” The most commonly performed hysterectomy is an open procedure called a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH). In this “traditional” procedure, the surgeon removes the uterus, including the cervix, through a five-inch abdominal incision. The large incision leaves a visible scar on your abdomen, making the TAH the most invasive of hysterectomy types. 

During a TAH, the tissues of the abdominal wall are stretched apart and the uterus is removed through the incision. Recovery time is usually longer and the overall level of discomfort may be greater following a TAH than following a Minimally Invasive Procedure (MIP) for a hysterectomy. A TAH typically requires a hospital stay of three to five days. Normal activity can usually resume in six weeks. ^39,40

For certain conditions or situations, a TAH may be the recommended procedure.

Click here to watch an animation of a total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH).

The other way a surgeon can perform a hysterectomy is by using a type of Minimally Invasive Procedure (MIP). MIP for hysterectomy uses state-of-the-art technology to treat more than 300,000 hysterectomy patients every year. ⁴⁰ Women who have an MIP often experience faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and less pain and scarring than women who have a TAH. Find out more about the benefits of MIP for hysterectomy.

A vaginal hysterectomy (VH) is performed through an incision made at the top of the vagina. Through the incision, the uterus, including the cervix, is separated from the surrounding tissues and then removed through the vagina. The vaginal incision is small, heals quickly, and usually doesn’t leave an external scar. The abdominal muscles are not stretched, so there’s usually less discomfort after the surgery. A vaginal hysterectomy takes one to two hours and requires a hospital stay of one to three days; normal activity can usually resume in four weeks.

Click here to watch an animation of a vaginal hysterectomy (VH).

In laparoscopic hysterectomies, the surgeon uses various specialized tools inserted through small, dime-sized incisions in the navel and abdomen. As with a vaginal hysterectomy, there is no large abdominal incision. Hospital stays and recovery times are typically shorter than those after a TAH.

The first type, called a laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), is actually quite similar to a vaginal hysterectomy in that the uterus and cervix are removed through an incision at the top of the vagina. However, prior to this removal, the surgeon uses a laparoscope (a miniature camera) inserted into the abdomen through one of the small incisions to view the uterus and the surrounding organs. The uterus is detached under view of the laparoscope using specialized laparoscopic surgical tools inserted through the other small incisions. The uterus is then removed through the vagina. Hospital stays and recovery times are similar to those for a vaginal hysterectomy.

Click here to watch an animation of a laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH).

A laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH) is the other laparoscopic procedure performed as a minimally invasive option to an open procedure such as a TAH. In this procedure, the uterus is removed using only laparoscopic tools. Using these instruments, the surgeon carefully separates the uterus from the cervix and then removes the uterus through one of the small abdominal incisions. Because the cervix is left in place, you must continue annual pap smears to screen for cervical cancer. Hospital stays and recovery times are similar compared to the other types of MIP for hysterectomy.

Click here to watch an animation of a laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH).

For some conditions of the uterus and ovaries, a hysterectomy is the only treatment option. Read more about fibroids; endometriosis; uterine prolapse; uterine, endometrial, and cervical cancer; abnormal uterine bleeding; and your treatment options for these conditions.

Find out how to start talking with your doctor to see if hysterectomy is the right treatment option for your symptoms.

MIP for hysterectomy involves less recovery time, less time in the hospital, less scarring, and less pain. Find out more about the benefits of MIP for hysterectomy and whether or not MIP may be an option for you.