Hysterectomy

What is a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is surgery that removes your uterus. It’s one of the most common surgeries for women. You may need a hysterectomy to treat long-lasting pain, heavy bleeding or certain health conditions.

If you’re thinking about having a hysterectomy, you probably have questions about what’s involved and what it means for your future. At Banner Health, our expert women’s health care team is here to help you understand your options and guide you, so you can make the decision that’s right for you.

Why do people need a hysterectomy?

Your health care provider may recommend a hysterectomy if other treatments haven’t worked or if you have severe symptoms from certain gynecologic conditions. Common reasons for a hysterectomy include:

• Uterine fibroids: These noncancerous growths can cause pain or heavy bleeding.
• Endometriosis: Tissue that’s like the uterine lining grows outside the uterus and can cause pelvic pain and/or painful periods.
• Adenomyosis: Tissue that’s like the uterine lining grows into the uterus and typically causes heavy and painful periods.
• Abnormal or heavy periods: These can interfere with your daily life or lead to anemia.
• Uterine prolapse: The uterus drops into the vaginal canal.
• Cancer: Cancer may develop in the uterus, cervix, ovaries or fallopian tubes.
• Chronic pelvic pain: This pain could be related to a gynecologic condition.

Your health care provider will usually try other treatments first (such as medication, physical therapy or less invasive procedures) before recommending surgery.

What does a hysterectomy remove?

During a hysterectomy, the uterus is always removed. Sometimes, other reproductive organs may be removed too, depending on your condition and medical needs:

• Cervix: Removed during a total hysterectomy
• Ovaries: May be removed to lower cancer risk or help prevent future problems, if there are other concerns regarding them or depending on age
• Fallopian tubes: Often removed to lower ovarian cancer risk, since they don’t serve a purpose if you don’t have a uterus

Once your uterus is removed, you will no longer have periods or be able to get pregnant. If you’re considering hysterectomy and want to have children, you should talk to your health care provider or a fertility specialist about your options before the surgery.

If your ovaries are also removed, your estrogen levels will drop. You may go into menopause if you haven’t already. You’ll want to talk to your provider about the menopause symptoms you should expect and treatment options for them.

Types of hysterectomy procedures

Your health care provider will recommend a type of hysterectomy based on your symptoms, medical history and overall health:

• Total hysterectomy: This type removes the uterus and cervix. It is the most common type.
• Partial hysterectomy: This type removes the uterus but leaves the cervix.
• Radical hysterectomy: This type removes the uterus, cervix and surrounding tissue. It’s usually done to treat cancer.
• Salpingo-oophorectomy: This procedure removes one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes. It’s often done at the same time as a hysterectomy. 
• Salpingectomy: This is the removal of the fallopian tubes. Often done at the same time as the hysterectomy. 

Surgical options for a hysterectomy

There are several ways to perform a hysterectomy. Your surgeon will choose the safest and most effective method for your needs.

• Laparoscopic hysterectomy: With this option, surgeons use small incisions in the abdomen and a tiny camera to guide the procedure, which they perform with small surgical instruments.
• Robotic-assisted hysterectomy: This type of laparoscopic surgery adds technology that offers even more precision, since your surgeon can use robotic arms to control the instruments.
• Vaginal hysterectomy: This procedure removes the uterus through a small cut in the vagina, with no external incisions.
• Abdominal hysterectomy: This procedure removes the uterus with open surgery through a cut in your belly, either along your bikini line or vertically. 

At Banner Health, we know how important it is to use the gentlest techniques. We use minimally invasive or robotic-assisted methods whenever possible to help reduce pain, speed up recovery and minimize scarring.

Typically, vaginal hysterectomy is the first choice. You may need laparoscopic or robotic surgery if your uterus is large, you’ve had previous gynecological surgery or you have endometriosis. Abdominal hysterectomy is typically only needed if your uterus is very large or if your provider suspects cancer.

Who may not be a candidate for a hysterectomy?

While a hysterectomy can be a good choice for treating many women’s health conditions, it’s not always the best option for everyone. Your health care provider will look at your full health picture before recommending surgery.

You may not be a good candidate for hysterectomy if you:

• Have certain heart or lung conditions that make surgery risky
• Want to preserve your fertility and have other treatment options
• Have mild symptoms that respond well to medications or non-surgical treatments

If you’re not sure, you may want to get a second opinion. Finding out what another health provider thinks can help you feel confident in your decision.

Questions to ask your doctor before surgery

If you're considering a hysterectomy, you may want to ask your health care provider:

• What are my other treatment options?
• What type of hysterectomy do I need and why?
• Will my ovaries, fallopian tubes or cervix be removed?
• What should I expect during recovery?
• How will this affect my hormone levels and sex life?
• Will the surgery trigger menopause?
• What happens if we wait or don’t do the surgery?

Asking questions like these helps you understand your choices so you can feel more in control of your health care.

How to prepare for a hysterectomy

About a week before your procedure, your surgical team will talk to you about:

• Medications you’re taking
• Instructions on what you can and cannot eat before surgery
• Possible complications 
• Recovery time
• Stopping smoking before surgery to help prevent blood clots and decrease complications (ideally a couple of months before surgery)

What happens after surgery?

Recovery looks different for everyone. You may go home the same day or stay in the hospital for a day or two. Full recovery usually takes two to six weeks for vaginal, laparoscopic or robotic surgery and four to eight weeks for abdominal surgery. Most people need to rest during this time.

It’s common to feel sore and tired and to have some light spotting. Call your provider if you have a fever, heavy bleeding or signs of infection.

Recovery isn’t just a physical process; it’s an emotional one, too. Every person processes it in their own way. 

You may be relieved to have your symptoms gone but you may also mourn the loss of your fertility, even if you weren’t planning on having children or feel your family is complete. Talk with your health care provider about the emotional effects to expect after surgery.

Learn more about hysterectomy recovery and life after surgery. 

Will a hysterectomy cause me to go into early menopause? 

It depends on the type of hysterectomy you have: 

• If you have a total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, you’ll go into premature menopause as your ovaries will have been removed.
• If you still have one or both of your ovaries after hysterectomy, you may start menopause sooner than you would have if you didn’t have the surgery. However, that is typically only six months to a year earlier on average.

Why choose Banner Health for hysterectomy care?

At Banner Health, you get more than expert surgical care. You get support from a women’s health care team that listens to you, guides your care and puts your well-being first.

We offer:

• Gynecologic surgeons who are experts in minimally invasive and robotic procedures
• Care plans that fit your needs and lifestyle
• Coordination with other specialists, like oncologists or pelvic floor therapists, if you need specialized care
• Convenient locations across Arizona and nearby states

Ready to take the next step?

Schedule an appointment with a Banner Health provider to find out whether a hysterectomy might be right for you.