Gynae Surgery

Hysterectomy

A Hysterectomy is an operation to remove the womb (uterus). It may be advised for a number of reasons including the removal of Fibroids.

It can can treat a number of conditions that affect the reproductive system including irregular or heavy menstrual bleeding, endometriosis, prolapse or fibroids.

A hysterectomy can be performed by one of the following three ways:

• An Abdominal Hysterectomy – where your womb is removed through a cut in your abdomen
• A Laparoscopic (keyhole) Hysterectomy – a procedure done through small cuts in your abdomen which can also be used to assist with vaginal hysterectomy

There are different types of surgeries which may be available depending on your condition:

• Supracervical Hysterectomy – removal of the uterus only
• Total Hysterectomy – removal of the uterus and cervix (the opening of the uterus leading to the vagina)
• Radical Hysterectomy – removal of the uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, upper part of the vagina, and the pelvic lymph nodes
• Salpingo-oophorectomy – removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes (may be combined with any of the above procedures)

Usually your ovaries are usually left in place because they produce oestrogen – otherwise you would immediately go through the menopause. After a hysterectomy, you will no longer have periods or be able to become pregnant.

Oophorectomy

Unilateral oophorectomy (also called an ovariectomy) is the surgical removal of an ovary.

If one ovary is removed, a woman may continue to menstruate and have children but if both ovaries are removed, menstruation stops and a woman loses the ability to have children. Oophorectomy is often performed to:

• remove cancerous ovaries
• remove the source of estrogen that stimulates some cancers
• remove a large ovarian cyst
• excise an abscess
• treat endometriosis 

In an oophorectomy, one or part of an ovary may be removed or both ovaries may be removed.

When an oophorectomy is done to treat ovarian cancer or other spreading cancers, both ovaries are removed (called a bilateral oophorectomy).

Removal of the ovaries and fallopian tubes is performed in about one-third of hysterectomies (surgical removal of the uterus), often to minimise the risk of ovarian cancer.

Oophorectomies are sometimes performed on premenopausal women who have estrogen-sensitive breast cancer in an effort to remove the main source of estrogen from their bodies although this procedure has become less common.

At Kingsbridge Private Hospital Group our Consultants will be able to advise you on the best form of treatment. In some cases surgery may not be needed and alternative treatments will be offered.