Hysterectomy Specialist

What medical conditions require a hysterectomy?

Hysterectomy can be performed for several underlying reasons. Some of the most common include:

• heavy or otherwise unusual menstrual bleeding

• fibroids that cause symptoms or fibroids that recur despite other types of treatments

• uterine prolapse, a condition that causes the uterus to drop down into the vaginal canal

• chronic and significant pelvic pain

• endometriosis, a condition that occurs when the tissue lining the uterus begins to grow outside the uterus, causing pain and irregular bleeding

Although hysterectomies used to be performed more frequently, today there are other approaches which may be better options. Dr. Chang will hep you understand and compare your options.

What are the symptoms of uterine prolapse?

Uterine prolapse causes different symptoms, depending on how advanced the condition has become. These can include:

• feeling of heaviness or fullness in the vagina

• vaginal pain

• irregular bleeding

• constipation

• recurrent urinary tract infections

• painful intercourse or problems having intercourse

Uterine prolapse is more likely to occur as you get older, and there are other conditions that can cause these symptoms as well. If you have any of these symptoms, see Dr. Chang for an evaluation.

How is hysterectomy performed?

Hysterectomy may be performed using an incision in your belly to remove the uterus and sometimes the ovaries and fallopian tubes as well, or it may be performed through your vagina in a minimally invasive procedure that uses a small incision in the vaginal wall to access the uterus so it can be removed. The approach will depend on your health, the size of the uterus and other factors. Hysterectomies can be total, in which the cervix and uterus are removed, or partial, in which the uterus is removed but the cervix is left in place. Radical hysterectomies also remove a portion of the vagina and are reserved for women with cervical or uterine cancer.