Hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that involves removing all or part of the uterus. Women may need to undergo this procedure at childbearing age or later.
The uterus... is the organ located in the lower part of the abdomen, in which the fetus grows and is nourished. It is one of the most important organs of the female reproductive system.
Reasons for hysterectomy
Dear Eve, we first want you to put your feelings aside because a hysterectomy may be absolutely necessary sometimes.
Here are the most important reasons why doctors resort to hysterectomy in women:
- The presence of a large number of large fibroids in the uterus, which are benign tumors that grow on the uterine wall and cause severe pain and bleeding.
- Cancerous tumors in the female reproductive system, such as uterine cancer, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer.
- Uterine prolapse (or uterine prolapse), a problem in which the uterus slides out of its normal position and protrudes outside the body from the vaginal canal.
- Adenomyosis, a condition that describes the growth of endometrial tissue within the muscular wall of the uterus.
- Chronic pelvic pain.
- Endometriosis, a problem in which endometrial tissue grows on the fallopian tubes or ovaries.
- Persistent and abnormal bleeding.
With the exception of cancer, hysterectomies are often one of a wide range of treatment options علاج سرطان الرحم The obstetrician and gynecologist is the one who determines whether or not you need a hysterectomy.
Types of hysterectomies
There are several types of hysterectomy depending on the underlying reason for removing the uterus. The doctor may decide to remove the entire uterus, remove part of it, or remove the uterus along with another organ of the reproductive system, such as the ovaries.
Types of hysterectomies depending on the part removed include:
- Partial hysterectomy: It involves removing the upper part of the uterus while retaining the cervix.
- Total hysterectomy: Removal of both the uterus and cervix.
- Radical hysterectomy: It involves removing the entire uterus, the cervix, the upper part of the vagina, and the organs surrounding the uterus, including the ovaries and fallopian tubes (radical hysterectomy is performed in cases of cancer of the female reproductive system).
Tips before a hysterectomy
There are a set of important tips that must be taken into account before undergoing a hysterectomy, which are as follows:
- Talk to the treating physician about all the details of the surgery, the type of anesthesia used, as well as how long the hysterectomy operation takes, and other necessary matters.
- Stop taking fluid medications, quit smoking or drinking alcoholic beverages.
- Follow the nutritional instructions prescribed by the doctor, as well as fast for at least 8 hours before the operation.
- Conducting all necessary medical examinations and blood and other tests.
- Completely avoid stress and anxiety and receive adequate psychological support before surgery.
Methods of performing a uterus removal operation
Doctors perform hysterectomies under general anesthesia using one of the following methods:
Laparoscopic hysterectomy
In a laparoscopic hysterectomy, the doctor makes 3 small incisions in the abdominal area - specifically next to the navel - then inserts the surgical laparoscope and pumps carbon dioxide gas to inflate the abdominal cavity and make it easier to see the internal organs. The doctor then uses a set of fine surgical tools and inserts them through the small incisions to remove the uterus.
Vaginal hysterectomy
During this procedure, the doctor makes a surgical incision in the upper part of the vagina to reach the uterus. Then the doctor uses some fine surgical tools to close the blood vessels connected to the uterus, in addition to separating the uterus from the rest of the nearby organs such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes (unless the doctor decides to remove those organs as well).
After hysterectomy, the doctor closes the surgical opening using specialized sutures.
Abdominal hysterectomy
Doctors perform this operation by making a vertical surgical incision that begins in the middle of the abdomen and extends to the bottom or approximately the suprapubic area, or they may perform it through a horizontal incision in the bikini area.
After incision in the abdomen, removing the uterus and separating it from the blood vessels and surrounding organs such as the fallopian tubes and ovaries, the doctor closes the surgical incision with sutures, and this process often takes longer compared to laparoscopic removal of the uterus.
How long does a hysterectomy take?
Hysterectomy is a common operation that usually takes from one to about 3 hours, but this depends on several important factors, which are as follows:
1. Excision method
To know how long a hysterectomy will take, you must determine the method of removal, as the duration varies if the removal is through surgery or the traditional method, and the duration also varies if the removal is laparoscopic.
2. Doctor’s experience
The doctor's experience and skills play a major role in determining how long the hysterectomy process takes, as the duration decreases as experience and competence increase, and vice versa.
3. The patient’s condition
The health condition varies from one patient to another, and this affects the knowledge of how long a hysterectomy takes, as the patient’s general health condition affects this, especially if there are scars from a previous surgery.
4. The size of the uterus
The size of the uterus also affects the time taken for surgery, as the larger the size, the longer the operation takes and vice versa.
The success rate of hysterectomy
The success rate of this operation is about 95% or more, and most statistics and clinical experiences indicate that women with cancers of the uterus and reproductive organs continue to live without the cancer returning after undergoing laparoscopic or surgical removal of the uterus.
Is a hysterectomy dangerous?
Hysterectomies are major surgeries that require great precision in their procedure. In addition, if they are performed using an open surgical method, the woman will have to stay in the hospital for one or a few nights after the surgery in order to undergo medical follow-up.
Recovery time after this surgery varies depending on the type of surgery, and recovery time often ranges from approximately six to eight weeks, during which time your physical condition gradually improves.
My dear, a hysterectomy is not dangerous, but like any surgical procedure, it may involve some complications, including:
- Severe bleeding.
- Exposure to infection.
- Damage to bladder or bowel tissue, which is more likely to happen with open surgery.
- Suffering from one of the side effects of general anesthesia.
Therefore, you should choose a large hospital that has a medical staff of gynecology consultants to avoid any potential complications from the operation.
احجز استشارتك الأن في مركز صحة المرأة At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital
Cause of menstruation after hysterectomy
You may be surprised after reading the title of this paragraph. How can menstruation occur after a hysterectomy?!
Menstruation will occur after a hysterectomy if the woman is young and has not reached menopause, and she has undergone a hysterectomy while preserving one or both ovaries. Her menstruation may stop at a younger age than expected for healthy women.
NoteSome statistics indicate that menstruation continues in young women after hysterectomy for approximately 5 years.
If the uterus and ovaries are removed, menstruation (or the menstrual cycle) will stop in the woman regardless of her age, and this condition is known as “surgical menopause.”
In the event of menopause after hysterectomies, doctors prescribe hormone replacement therapies.
Does hysterectomy cause weight gain?
Many women who have had their uterus removed notice a significant increase in their weight, especially those who have had both their uterus and ovaries removed.
Weight increases after this operation as a natural result of the hormonal changes that occur due to the removal of the uterus. Menopause after removing the ovaries also leads to gaining more weight.
Post hysterectomy and intercourse
Doctors advise avoiding sexual intercourse for six weeks after a woman undergoes surgery, even if she feels her physical condition has improved.
Does hysterectomy affect men?
Married life is nothing but a sharing between two people, so a man may notice some psychological changes in his wife, and he must contain them during that period to alleviate the negative feelings she feels as a result of the loss of one of her female organs.
As for the effect of hysterectomy on the man during intercourse, it is definitely a positive effect. The goal of this operation is to get rid of all diseases that may cause the wife pain in the pelvic area during intercourse, such as large fibroids. Therefore, the marital relationship improves and the woman feels more comfortable during intercourse after the hysterectomy.
Proper eating after hysterectomy
Doctors advise following healthy eating habits that contribute to improving the woman’s physical condition after undergoing the operation, such as eating fruits and vegetables, and meals that contain fiber and proteins, in addition to dairy products that are full of beneficial nutrients.
In addition to the above, a woman must maintain a healthy weight by avoiding eating a large amount of fat and exercising, in order to avoid weight gain after the operation. As we previously mentioned, the chances of weight gain after a hysterectomy are great.
The cost of a hysterectomy in Saudi Arabia
The cost of uterus removal varies depending on the method used to perform it.
At the Women’s Health Center at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital, we include a medical staff consisting of the most skilled obstetricians and gynecologists in the Kingdom. We also care about educating women about everything related to their health, and explaining to them what all the treatment options are available, out of our belief in the importance of psychological support for women during their treatment experience.
What are the complications of hysterectomy?
Sometimes a hysterectomy causes some complications, the most important of which are the following:
- Some symptoms of menopause appear, especially if the ovaries are removed.
- Experiencing some sadness, distress, and anxiety after confirming the inability to have children and the cessation of menstruation.
- Weight gain and exposure to obesity.
- Lipid disorders and high blood pressure.
- The possibility of developing some heart diseases such as coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure.
- A clear decrease in sexual desire and vaginal dryness.
- Mood swings and hot flashes.
- Suffering from the problem of vaginal prolapse, along with some problems with defecation and the inability to empty the bladder naturally.
Women's experiences after hysterectomy
Many women reported a number of complications they experienced after undergoing a hysterectomy, the most prominent of which were the following:
- Some women suffered from depression and felt a lot of negative emotions as a result of the certainty of not being able to get pregnant again.
- A deficiency in the hormone progesterone, which leads to vaginal dryness and sweating, as well as changes in mood and lack of sexual desire.
- Vaginal dryness, which makes intercourse somewhat painful.
- Feeling tired and exhausted, as well as difficulty concentrating and sometimes having a headache.
- Lack of self-confidence as a result of her feeling of losing part of her femininity.
- Some urinary tract infections.
- Occasionally experiencing hot flashes, which is one of the most common symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you stay in the hospital after a hysterectomy?
The length of stay in the hospital after a hysterectomy is determined according to several factors, the most important of which is the type of operation, whether surgical or laparoscopic, as well as the patient’s health condition, but the duration usually ranges from one day to several days depending on the case.
Does fatigue improve after a hysterectomy?
Yes, a woman feels a lot of improvement after a hysterectomy, especially if it causes her a lot of problems, but she begins to improve after the immediate fatigue after the operation disappears and she receives an appropriate amount of rest, especially since the matter continues for a few weeks until she fully recovers.
Is walking useful after hysterectomy?
Yes, walking is considered one of the best types of exercise in general, and it is very useful after a hysterectomy in particular, as it relieves gases, improves blood circulation, helps strengthen the pelvic muscles, works to relieve constipation, and many other benefits.
Sources
Hysterectomy – clevelandclinic
