Laparoscopic Radical Hysterectomy

Overview

A hysterectomy is surgery to remove your uterus (partial hysterectomy) or your uterus plus your cervix (total hysterectomy).

If you need a hysterectomy, your doctor might recommend robot-assisted (robotic) surgery. During robotic surgery, your doctor performs the hysterectomy with instruments that are passed through small abdominal cuts (incisions). The magnified, 3D view makes possible great precision, flexibility and control.

When you have a minimally invasive hysterectomy, you're likely to have less pain and lose less blood than is typical with open abdominal surgery. You'll probably be able to resume normal daily activities more quickly than you could after open surgery.

Results

After a hysterectomy, you'll no longer have periods or be able to get pregnant.

If you had your ovaries removed but hadn't reached menopause, you'll begin menopause immediately after surgery. You might have symptoms such as vaginal dryness, hot flashes and night sweats. Your doctor can recommend medications for these symptoms. Your doctor might recommend hormone therapy even if you don't have symptoms.

If your ovaries weren't removed during surgery — and you still had periods before your surgery — your ovaries continue producing hormones and eggs until you reach natural menopause.