The decision to have a hysterectomy isn’t always easy, but it may be the best option when certain conditions and diseases have a substantial impact on your life. While you will no longer have periods and problems associated with them after a hysterectomy, you also cannot become pregnant.
Gynecologic surgeon John A. Whitfield, MD, of Fort Worth, Texas, specializes in hysterectomy, choosing full or partial procedures based on the best interests of the patient. Dr. Whitfield exhausts all conservative treatment options before recommending surgery.
Together with Dr. Whitfield, you’ll have much to discuss before deciding on a hysterectomy. We’ve prepared this month’s blog to help you focus on the important points involved in making the decision.
There’s no question that hysterectomy is a major surgical procedure. However, it can be life-changing for some women, dramatically improving the quality of their lives.
Hysterectomy effectively cures problems arising from a wide range of conditions that interfere with the quality of your life. A partial list of these issues includes:
Depending on your diagnosis and the extent of your symptoms, Dr. Whitfield may recommend specific approaches and types of hysterectomy procedures.
Behind cesarean section, hysterectomy is the most commonly performed surgery on women. Around 600,000 hysterectomies occur each year, and more than one-third of women in the United States have had this surgery by the age of 60.
A total hysterectomy removes the uterus as well as the cervix, but leaves the ovaries to prevent surgical menopause. Variations include partial procedures such as a supracervical hysterectomy, which removes only the top portion of the uterus, leaving the cervix intact.
Total hysterectomy may sometimes include salpingectomy (removal of the fallopian tubes) and oophorectomy (removal of the ovaries), should these be contributing to your symptoms. Menopause starts after any surgery that includes the removal of the ovaries.
Surgical techniques for hysterectomy include abdominal open surgery, laparoscopic techniques through the abdomen or vagina, or surgery through the vagina. Dr. Whitfield chooses the least invasive procedure that can accomplish the goals of the surgery you need.
Contact Dr. Whitfield’s Fort Worth office for diagnosis or surgical consultation. Book your appointment by calling 817-927-2229 today.
