Hysterectomy

Making the decision to have a hysterectomy is certainly not to be taken lightly and should be given the utmost consideration.You may be recommended to have a hysterectomy for a number of reasons, however, in the majority of cases it’s optional and you’ll need to come to an informed decision based on your medical history.

In certain cases such as uterine or cervical cancer you will probably be left with no option, as will cases where a uterine growth has caused a blockage of your bladder or intestines.

The three main reasons for undertaking a Hysterectomy are to save lives,to improve the quality of life or to correct serious problems that interfere with normal functions.Listed below are some of the most common reasons for the need of a Hysterectomy.

Heavy bleeding or very painful periods.

In a number of women, life is made much more difficult because of heavy periods. Sometimes the heavy bleeding during periods can lead to anaemia. There are a number of medicines available that may help to ease heavy periods. If the medications fail to ease symptoms then a Hysterectomy may be recommended.

Uterine Fibroids.
These are swellings of abnormal muscle that grow in the uterus. Fibroids are very common and in a lot of cases do not cause any symptoms but can cause heavy or painful periods in some women. In some cases fibroids can cause urinary symptoms by becoming quite large and pressing on the bladder.

Prolapse.

This is where the uterus, or parts of the vaginal wall, drops down. This may happen after the menopause when the tissues which support the uterus tend to become thinner and weaker.

Endometriosis.

This is a condition in which the cells which line the uterus can be found outside of the uterus in the pelvis. This can cause scarring around the uterus, and may result in the bladder or rectum to ‘sticking’ to the uterus or fallopian tubes. Endometriosis may possibly cause only mild symptoms, however many women develop painful periods, abdominal pain or may experience some pain during sex.

Cancer.

In most cases Hysterectomy may be advised if you develop cancer of the cervix, uterus, fallopian tubes or ovaries.

Types of Hysterectomy

Complete or total hysterectomy. This type of hysterectomy involves the removal of both the uterus and the cervix. The largest proportion of women undergoing hysterectomy have a complete or total hysterectomy.
Partial or subtotal hysterectomy; sometimes called supracervical hysterectomy. This type of hysterectomy removes the top two-thirds of the uterus whilst leaving the lower third of the uterus, which is called the cervix, intact. Women who have never had an abnormal Pap smear result may be recommended this type of hysterectomy. In some cases it is believed that a partial or subtotal hysterectomy helps to reduce sex related problems.
Radical hysterectomy. During a radical hysterectomy, the uterus, the cervix, the upper part of the vagina, and supporting tissues are removed. A radical hysterectomy may be deemed necessary for treatment of certain cases of cancer.