Hysterectomy

Holy Cross OBGYN

OB-GYNs located in Mesquite, TX & Terrell, TX

While removing an organ is never the first choice, there can come a time when its absence may prove more beneficial to your overall health and well-being. Such is the case with a hysterectomy, which is a procedure for removing your uterus. At Holy Cross OBGYN, Dr. Maduka Odogwu provides hysterectomies to women in Mesquite, Texas to help them overcome medical problems and regain their health and quality of life. If you’d like to discover more about a hysterectomy, call the office or use the online booking tool to schedule a visit.

Hysterectomy Q & A

What is a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure where Dr. Odogwu removes your uterus. By and large, you shouldn't opt for a hysterectomy flippantly since it ends your ability to get pregnant. But it also ends menstruation, which is why many women undergo a hysterectomy. There are several types of hysterectomies, including:

Subtotal, or supracervical, hysterectomy

Dr. Odogwu removes the upper part of your uterus, preserving your cervix.

Total hysterectomy

The doctor removes your entire uterus, including your cervix.

Total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

Dr. Odogwu removes your uterus, your cervix, your ovaries, and your fallopian tubes. Since the doctor removes your ovaries in this procedure, you will enter menopause, if you haven’t already.

Why would I need a hysterectomy?

A hysterectomy is typically a last resort measure after Dr. Odogwu has exhausted all other treatment options. The most common reasons why women opt for this procedure are:

  • Uterine fibroids
  • Endometriosis
  • Uterine prolapse, which is when your uterus collapses into your vagina
  • Cancer
  • Abnormal bleeding
  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Adenomyosis, which is when your endometrial tissue grows inside the walls of your uterus

How is the hysterectomy performed?

Thanks to modern techniques, a hysterectomy can be performed laparoscopically: through tiny incisions in your abdomen, or even inside your vagina, through which your doctor uses small instruments. This technique relies on a small, lighted camera to provide the doctor with an image of the area, and specialized tools that he can guide using a video monitor.

The result is that this type of surgery minimizes damage to your surrounding tissue and dramatically cuts down on the risk of infection, as well as the downtime associated with surgery.

If the hysterectomy cannot be done laparoscopically, Dr. Odogwu goes in through your lower abdomen in what’s called an open hysterectomy. In these cases, the doctor still endeavors to make the smallest incision possible to ensure your quick recovery.

What can I expect after a hysterectomy?

Your periods will stop, though you might experience light vaginal bleeding or brownish discharge for a few weeks after surgery. You might also experience bruising, pain and numbness around your incision site. But these symptoms usually resolve over the next few weeks after surgery.

You might need hormone replacement therapy if your ovaries are removed. And if your ovaries are removed, you might experience vaginal atrophy. But topical vaginal estrogen can help relieve such symptoms.

To learn more about a hysterectomy, call Holy Cross OBGYN or use the online form to schedule an appointment.