Hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the womb (uterus), with or without the cervix.
- Hysterectomy is used to treat a number of conditions, including heavy or painful periods, fibroids and prolapse.
- The operation may be performed through the abdomen or the vagina or Laparoscopically LINK FOR TLH Total Laparoscopic hysterectomy
Hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the womb (uterus), with or without the cervix. The operation may also be with or without the removal of the ovaries and the fallopian tubes.
If a woman has a hysterectomy, she will no longer have menstrual periods or be able to have a child, and will not need to use contraception.
Reasons for a hysterectomy
Conditions that may be treated by hysterectomy include:
- fibroids — non-cancerous growths that form within the muscular walls of the uterus, outside the uterus, and within the uterine cavity
- heavy or irregular menstrual periods — however, new techniques now used to treat this include endometrial ablation (which is surgical destruction of the uterus lining) or use of a levonorgestrel-releasing inter-uterine device (IUD)
- severe period pain (dysmenorrhoea) — due to adenomyosis or severe recurrent endometriosis
- cancer of the cervix, uterus, ovaries or fallopian tubes
- endometriosis — a condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus grow in other areas of the body, especially around the ovaries and peritoneum (lining inside the abdomen) in the pelvis
- adenomyosis – a condition where endometrial cells grow in the muscle of the uterus
- prolapse – the uterus falls into vagina because of loose ligamnets or damage to the pelvic floor muscles, usually from childbirth
- pelvic inflammatory disease (acute or chronic PID). caused by bacterial infection, often from sexually transmitted infections (STIs).