Supracervical Hysterectomy - An Alternative to Traditional Hysterectomy



Posted: Saturday, July 17, 2010

by Penny Madsen
EJH Group LLC

A Supracervical hysterectomy can be done either through an abdominal incision or with a laparoscope. In a supracervical hysterectomy, only the uterus is removed thru either an abdominal incision or thru a laparoscope with a uterine morcellator. The cervix and possibly even the ovaries are kept.

Considerations Before Undergoing This Procedure

To determine if you are a candidate for this procedure, you must provide your doctor with a complete medical history. You must also undergo a physical exam, vaginal ultrasound, and Pap smear. You may also need to undergo testing for human papillomavirus (HPV). If you have other conditions that may affect the procedure, separate tests will need to be conducted.

You may not be a candidate for supracervical hysterectomy if you have any of the following conditions: endometrial hyperplasia or cancer; current or previous cervical dysplasia or cancer; or any other gynecologic cancer. Thorough tests must be performed to exclude cancer precursors, or uterine and cervical cancer.

Does Supracervical Hysterectomy Get the Thumbs Up or the Thumbs Down?

Advocates of this procedure claim that this technique preserves the sexual function of a woman because the cervix is preserved along with the mucous-secreting glands which prevent vaginal dryness. Vaginal dryness is a common complaint of women who have undergone hysterectomy. The technique also results in better pelvic support, as the ligaments that support the vagina and cervix are not severed. In addition, this type of hysterectomy causes less pain than other types of hysterectomy. It requires a shorter recovery period because of the small incisions that are made through the laparoscopic approach. Moreover, hormone replacement therapy may no longer be needed since the ovaries are left intact. This hysterectomy appears to have the shortest operating time as well as the shortest hospital stay when utilized by an experienced Gynecologist. Women who undergo this hysterectomy can also resume their sexual activity sooner.

However, recent research conducted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists showed that there is no real advantage with the supracervical hysterectomy compared to the other types of hysterectomy. A woman who has undergone a supracervical hysterectomy may even be exposed to more risks from the cervix that is kept. This can lead to further treatment with regards to cervical pathology in the future.

Just as with total hysterectomy, supracervical hysterectomy patients still experience bladder emptying, urinary frequency, and urinary incontinence. In addition, the study showed that women who underwent a supracervical hysterectomy reported no difference in the quality and frequency of sexual activity when compared with other types of hysterectomy.

In deciding whether or not to undergo this procedure, it is best to thoroughly discuss the pros and cons with your doctor. This will enable you to better evaluate whether this type of hysterectomy is right for you.

To find out more about hysterectomies and alternatives to this procedure, check out

Hysterectomy911.com

This Article has been viewed 358 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
No comments yet.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.