Pros and cons of subtotal hysterectomy

The uterus is a very important organ in the female reproductive system, but as women get older, the uterus is prone to problems. For example, cervical erosion and cervicitis are relatively common uterine problems. In addition, a more serious uterine problem is cervical cancer. In the process of treating cervical cancer, the uterus needs to be removed in order to control the spread of cancer cells, but what are the pros and cons of a hysterectomy?

Is hysterectomy common?

Yes. Hysterectomy is the most common surgical procedure performed in the United States. It is estimated that up to 600,000 women have hysterectomies each year. A hysterectomy may be used to treat conditions such as uterine fibroids (noncancerous tumors), heavy menstrual bleeding, uterine prolapse, and some invasive cancers of the reproductive organs, such as the uterus, cervix, vagina, fallopian tubes, or ovaries.

A partial hysterectomy removes only the uterus, a myomectomy removes only the fibroids, and a total hysterectomy removes both the uterus and the cervix. For some cancers, the vagina may also need to be removed, a procedure called a radical hysterectomy, which is also rare.

What are the disadvantages of minimally invasive hysterectomy?

Some patients may worry that after a hysterectomy, they will have crazy hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats, but in fact, there may be almost no symptoms. After the uterus is removed, there will be no more menstruation, let alone pregnancy, but this does not necessarily mean menopause. In other words, if only uterine surgery is performed, the timing of natural menopause will not be affected.

The uterus can also be removed through minimally invasive surgery, where the doctor cuts the uterus into smaller pieces, a process called hysterectomy morcellation. Recently, some people have suggested that minimally invasive surgery may increase the risk of cancer cells spreading. Morcellation is not carcinogenic, but if the person has certain cancers, the minimally invasive procedure could spread cancer cells. This type of cancer is extremely rare. A recent report suggests that only 27 women in 10,000 are at risk. Before undergoing this surgery, you must understand it clearly.

The female uterus is an important reproductive organ and also a magical little house for creating life. Minimally invasive hysterectomy may have a greater impact on the uterus, but for the sake of better health, there is no other way to exchange relatively fewer sequelae for a better and healthier body, so you don't need to worry too much.