Surgery to remove the uterus and ovaries

Hysterectomy is an operation to remove the uterus and ovaries, prescribed as an effective treatment for fibroids. Doctors usually recommend this option if the tumor is large, there is heavy bleeding, or the woman is about to enter menopause (or has already entered).

Hysterectomy has several types, including:

• partial hysterectomy — in this procedure, only the upper part of the uterus is removed.;
• general hysterectomy — resection of the cervix and the entire uterus is performed (in some cases, the fallopian tubes and ovaries are also removed);
• Radical hysterectomy — During this surgery, the cervix, uterus, and upper part of the vagina are cut out.

Ways to remove the uterus in fibroids

There are several approaches to performing a hysterectomy.

Abdominal hysterectomy. According to patient reviews, such removal of the uterus in fibroids is most often offered in ordinary hospitals. The surgeon cuts out the uterus through an incision in the abdomen. The recovery period for abdominal hysterectomy is from 1 to 2 months. Depending on the conditions of the disease, resection of the cervix and ovaries is not always required.

Vaginal hysterectomy. Instead of making a hole in the abdomen, the surgeon cuts out and removes the uterus through the vagina. This method is less invasive than the abdominal method, so the recovery time is usually shorter. Vaginal hysterectomy is not prescribed if the fibroid is very large.

Laparoscopic procedure. This is a minimally invasive approach in which all necessary tissues and organs are removed and removed vaginally. To monitor the procedure and insert instruments into hard-to-reach places, the surgeon makes several tiny incisions in the abdomen and installs ports (tubes). A laparoscope (a thin tube with a camera and lighting) and cutting tools are inserted through the ports. The cost of removing uterine fibroids is laparoscopically close to the price of traditional surgery, since there is no need to pay for long-term inpatient treatment. Recovery is much faster – 1-2 weeks.

Robotic hysterectomy. During the operation, the surgeon sits at the console next to the patient, who is on the operating table, and guides the robotic arm for laparoscopic surgery. Similar to the laparoscope procedure, this method requires only small incisions in the abdominal cavity. The cost of surgery to remove uterine fibroids using a robotic system is slightly more expensive than laparoscopy due to the relative novelty of the technology.

Preparation for removal of the uterus in fibroids

During the preparation for removal of the uterus in fibroids, the patient should improve her health: follow the recommended diet, exercise level, stop smoking and drinking. This will help you recover faster after surgery. It is necessary to inform the doctor about the medications taken, the presence of heart and lung diseases, previous operations, and the presence of allergies. Also, during the preparation, the doctor should tell you how much the operation to remove uterine fibroids costs, along with a hospital stay for recovery, so that the final amount is not a surprise.