If you are a woman and suffer from abnormal, painful, or heavy periods a hysterectomy might be the answer to the relief you are looking for.
A hysterectomy is the removal of the uterus, cervix, and sometimes the ovaries. “If the ovaries are removed women will go into what we call surgical menopause,” said Laura Kota, MD, OBGYN for Mid-Michigan Physicians Women’s Health. “We can prevent the symptoms of menopause with medical hormone therapy, or, if you only need one ovary removed, the other ovary will replace the loss in hormone production.”
There are many reasons for a woman to undergo a hysterectomy. The most common reasons include an abnormal or painful period due to endometriosis or fibroids. The surgery can also be used to treat pelvic inflammatory disease, prolapse of the uterus, or cancer.
“You will notice some changes to your body after a hysterectomy, most notably you will no longer have a period,” said Dr. Kota. “You will also experience relief from the symptoms that were the cause of the issue or pain.”
While a hysterectomy is considered a major surgery, it is often performed in a minimally invasive way, resulting in an outpatient surgery with only a one-night stay in the hospital.
“There are four ways we can perform the surgery,” said Dr. Kota. “Minimally invasive options include robot-assisted, laparoscopic, or vaginal surgery. Some tougher cases may need to have a traditional abdominal hysterectomy, which may result in a longer recovery time and more scarring.”
Minimally invasive hysterectomies that are done robotically or laparoscopically result in minimal abdominal scarring, while a vaginal hysterectomy is performed with no visible scarring. These surgeries are typically outpatient procedures, and if you are no longer on pain medication you may return to work after two weeks and normal activities after six weeks.
Many insurances cover a hysterectomy; however, you would need to reach out to your individual insurance company for coverage details.
If you have any questions about hysterectomy, or if you would like to schedule a consultation, reach out to Dr. Kota’s office at (517) 913-3840.
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