About hysterectomy

HYSTERECTOMY

What is a hysterectomy ?

A hysterectomy is a major surgical operation which involves removal of the woman’s uterus (i.e. womb) .It is one of the most common operations performed on women worldwide.



Hysterectomy is carried for various problems with the women’s reproductive organs and depending upon the problem have ,your gynaecologist will decide what type of hysterectomy you will require and whether the other organs like the cervix ,ovaries and fallopian tubes need be also removed.

When do you need a hysterectomy?

Your gynaecologist may advice a hysterectomy if you suffer from any of the following conditions

Uterine Fibroids (myomas):

These are non-cancerous tumours of different sizes usually shrink after menopause.
Fibroids are common and need treatment if they cause symptoms.
Larger fibroids may cause bleeding, pain during sex, anaemia, pelvic pain, or bladder pressure.
This is the one of most common reason for a hysterectomy.

Abnormal Uterine Bleeding:

This is caused commonly due to hormonal imbalances (i.e. between female sex hormones).
Other causes are fibroids, polyps, infections of the cervix and cancer.
Related symptoms may include heavy or long periods, bleeding between periods or bleeding after menopause.
Some medical approaches can treat the condition successfully.
If medical treatment fails or if the bleeding becomes more severe, HYSTERECTOMY is the only alternative.

Uterine prolapse:

The uterus displaces down into the vagina because the tissues that support the uterus in place become lax and weak.
Childbirth, obesity, persistent cough or straining, and hormonal changes (loss of estrogen after menopause) are the causes.
The condition may also lead to urinary incontinence (problems holding your urine).

Endometriosis:

It occurs when the tissue lining the uterus grows outside of the uterus and onto surrounding organs.
It can cause painful periods, abnormal vaginal bleeding, scarring, adhesions, and infertility (difficulty getting pregnant).
It is the second most common reason for performing a hysterectomy.

Chronic Pelvic Pain:

There are many causes and symptoms (eg: painful periods and intercourse)of chronic pelvic pain, and not all can be successfully treated with a hysterectomy.
Hence it is absolutely essential to carefully diagnose the problem and try other treatments first.
Endometriosis, fibroids, adhesions, and infections are a few causes of pelvic pain.

Cancer:

Endometrial cancer (cancer of the lining of the uterus), cervical cancer and cancer of the ovaries or fallopian tubes require a hysterectomy.
This will remove the cancerous tissue and will prevent its further spread to other organs.