More than 600,000 hysterectomies are performed annually in the United States. In fact, hysterectomies are the second most common major surgical procedure for women (of reproductive age) performed in the U.S.

Why Recommend a Hysterectomy?

Image source: National Cancer Institute

There are several reasons a hysterectomy may be recommended by Dr. J. Kyle Mathews. Patients may have uterine fibroids, severe vaginal bleeding, uterine prolapse, endometriosis or chronic pelvic pain. Regardless of the diagnosis, women have a choice in how the surgical procedure is performed.

Deciding on a Hysterectomy Surgical Procedure

Abdominal hysterectomy, which requires a large incision and close to two months of recovery time, is still the most common route of hysterectomy in spite of a large amount of evidence to support less invasive approaches. Women should have the option for a vaginal, laparoscopic, or robotically assisted hysterectomy.

A vaginal hysterectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which an experienced urogynecological surgeon like Dr. Mathews removes the uterus through the vagina. This is the least invasive, most cost effective route of hysterectomy but requires the most skill to perform. With a one to two-week recovery time, a vaginal hysterectomy accounts for less time in the hospital (home the same day or one over night stay). It also leaves no visible scarring. Vaginal hysterectomies were thought to only be appropriate women without a previous caesarean section, and with a small uterus and small fibroid. This thought process has proven to be outdated and the decision to perform a hysterectomy vaginally has more to do with your surgeons experience, skill, and expertise.

A laparoscopic hysterectomy, also minimally invasive, may be performed as an out-patient procedure or one night stay. Dr. Mathews will insert a small camera through a tiny incision in the abdomen to remove the uterus. Most women experience a recovery time of one to two weeks, and there is only slight scarring. While an option for almost all women, laparoscopic hysterectomy may not be the best procedure for women with multiple lower abdomen surgeries or a very large uterus.

A robotically assisted hysterectomy is similar to the laparoscopic approach but with the addition of the da Vinci Surgical System which allows more complicated case to be done in a minimally invasive manner. Dr. Mathews has a vast experience treating complex gynecological conditions with this state of the art technology.

Dr. J. Kyle Mathews is an expert in the field of urogynecology, minimally invasive laparoscopic and robotic surgery, and reconstructive gynecologic surgery. If you’re suffering from severe pelvic pain, endometriosis, fibroids, severe uterine bleeding or other gynecological medical conditions, contact the Plano office of Dr. J. Kyle Mathews.

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