Overview
Female reproductive system
Female reproductive system
The ovaries, fallopian tube, uterus, cervix and vagina ( vaginal canal ) make up the female generative system .
vaginal hysterectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the uterus through the vagina .
During a vaginal hysterectomy, the surgeon detaches the uterus from the ovaries, fallopian tube and upper vagina, vitamin a well as from the blood vessels and connection weave that patronize it, before removing the uterus.
Reading: Vaginal hysterectomy – Mayo Clinic
vaginal hysterectomy involves a shorter prison term in the hospital, lower cost and faster recovery than an abdominal hysterectomy, which requires an incision in your lower abdomen. however, depending on the size and shape of your uterus or the reason for the operation, vaginal hysterectomy might not be possible. Your doctor will talk to you about early surgical options, such as an abdominal hysterectomy .
Hysterectomy frequently includes removal of the neck a well as the uterus. When the surgeon besides removes one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes, it ’ sulfur called a total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy ( sal-ping-go-o-of-uh-REK-tuh-me ). All of these organs are part of your generative system and are situated in your pelvis .
Why it’s done
vaginal hysterectomy treats assorted gynecological problems, including :
- Fibroids. Many hysterectomies are done to permanently treat these benign tumors in your uterus that can cause persistent bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain, pain during intercourse and bladder pressure. For large fibroids, you might need surgery that removes your uterus through an incision in your lower abdomen (abdominal hysterectomy).
- Endometriosis. This occurs when the tissue lining your uterus (endometrium) grows outside the uterus, involving the ovaries, fallopian tubes or other organs. Most women with endometriosis have a laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy or abdominal hysterectomy, but sometimes a vaginal hysterectomy is possible.
- Adenomyosis. This occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus grows into the uterine wall. An enlarged uterus and painful, heavy periods result.
- Gynecological cancer. If you have cancer of the uterus, cervix, endometrium or ovaries, or precancerous changes, your doctor might recommend a hysterectomy. Most often, treatment for ovarian cancer involves an abdominal hysterectomy, but sometimes vaginal hysterectomy is appropriate for women with cervical or endometrial cancer.
- Uterine prolapse. When pelvic supporting tissues and ligaments weaken or stretch out, the uterus can sag into the vagina, causing urine leakage, pelvic pressure or difficulty with bowel movements. Removing the uterus and repairing supportive tissues might relieve those symptoms.
- Abnormal uterine bleeding. When medication or a less invasive surgical procedure doesn’t control irregular, heavy or very long periods, hysterectomy may be needed.
- Chronic pelvic pain. If your pain is clearly caused by a uterine condition, hysterectomy might help, but only as a last resort. Chronic pelvic pain can have several causes, so an accurate diagnosis of the cause is critical before having a hysterectomy.
For most of these conditions — with the potential exception of cancer — hysterectomy is precisely one of several treatment options. You might not need to consider hysterectomy if medications or less encroaching gynecological procedures manage your symptoms .
You can not become fraught after a hysterectomy. If you ’ re not certain that you ’ re ready to give up your birthrate, research other treatments .
Risks
Although vaginal hysterectomy is by and large safe, any operating room has risks. Risks of vaginal hysterectomy include :
- Heavy bleeding
- Blood clots in the legs or lungs
- Infection
- Damage to surrounding organs
- Adverse reaction to anesthetic
severe endometriosis or scar weave ( pelvic adhesions ) might force your surgeon to switch from vaginal hysterectomy to laparoscopic or abdominal hysterectomy during the surgery .
How you prepare
As with any operating room, it ’ mho convention to feel anxious about having a hysterectomy. here ’ s what you can do to prepare :
- Gather information. Before the surgery, get all the information you need to feel confident about it. Ask your doctor and surgeon questions.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions about medication. Find out whether you should take your usual medications in the days before your hysterectomy. Be sure to tell your doctor about over-the-counter medications, dietary supplements or herbal preparations that you take.
- Discuss anesthesia. You might prefer general anesthesia, which makes you unconscious during surgery, but regional anesthesia — also called spinal block or epidural block — might be an option. During a vaginal hysterectomy, regional anesthesia will block the feelings in the lower half of your body. With general anesthesia, you’ll be asleep.
- Arrange for help. Although you’re likely to recover sooner after a vaginal hysterectomy than after an abdominal one, it still takes time. Ask someone to help you out at home for the first week or so.
What you can expect
talk with your repair about what to expect during and after a vaginal hysterectomy, including physical and emotional effects .
During the procedure
You ’ ll lie on your back, in a side like to the one you ’ re in for a Pap test. You might have a urinary catheter inserted to empty your bladder. A member of your surgical team will clean the surgical area with a sterile solution before surgery .
To perform the hysterectomy :
- Your surgeon makes an incision inside your vagina to get to the uterus
- Using long instruments, your surgeon clamps the uterine blood vessels and separates your uterus from the connective tissue, ovaries and fallopian tubes
- Your uterus is removed through the vaginal opening, and absorbable stitches are used to control any bleeding inside the pelvis
Except in cases of suspect uterine cancer, the surgeon might cut an blow up uterus into smaller pieces and remove it in sections ( morcellation ).
Laparoscopic or robotic hysterectomy
You might be a candidate for a laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy ( LAVH ) or robotic hysterectomy. Both procedures allow your surgeon to remove the uterus vaginally while being able to see your pelvic organs through a slender viewing instrumental role called a laparoscope .
Your surgeon performs most of the procedure through humble abdominal incisions aided by long, reduce surgical instruments inserted through the incisions. Your surgeon then removes the uterus through an incision made in your vagina .
Your surgeon might recommend LAVH or robotic hysterectomy if you have scar tissue on your pelvic organs from prior surgeries or from endometriosis .
After the procedure
After operating room, you ’ ll be in a convalescence room for one to two hours and in the hospital nightlong. Some women are able to go home the day of the surgery .
You ’ ll take medicine for pain. Your health care team will encourage you to get up and move vitamin a soon as you ’ ra able .
It ’ s normal to have bloody vaginal discharge for respective days to weeks after a hysterectomy, so you ’ ll indigence to wear sanitary pads .
How you’ll feel physically
convalescence after vaginal hysterectomy is shorter and less painful than it is after an abdominal hysterectomy. A full recovery might take three to four weeks .
even if you feel recovered, don ’ metric ton lift anything heavy — more than 20 pounds ( 9.1 kilograms ) — or have vaginal sexual intercourse until six weeks after operation .
Contact your sophisticate if pain worsens or if you develop nausea, vomiting or bleeding that ’ s heavier than a menstrual menstruation .
How you’ll feel emotionally
After a hysterectomy, you might feel relief because you no longer have dense bleeding or pelvic pain .
For most women, there ’ s no change in sexual function after hysterectomy. But for some women, heightened intimate satisfaction occurs after hysterectomy — possibly because they no longer have pain during intercourse .
You might feel a sense of passing and grief after hysterectomy, which is normal. Or you might have depression related to the loss of your birthrate, specially if you ’ ra young and hoped for a future pregnancy. If sadness or negative feelings intervene with your use of everyday life, talk to your doctor .
Results
After a hysterectomy, you ’ ll no long have periods or be able to get fraught .
If you had your ovaries removed but hadn ’ thyroxine reached menopause, you ’ ll begin menopause immediately after surgery. You might have symptoms such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes and night sweats. Your repair can recommend medications for these symptoms. Your doctor might recommend hormone therapy evening if you don ’ t have symptoms.
If your ovaries weren ’ t removed during operating room — and you however had periods before your operating room — your ovaries continue producing hormones and eggs until you reach natural menopause .
Clinical trials
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