What Is a Complete Vaginal Hysterectomy?

A complete vaginal hysterectomy is a surgical procedure also known as a total vaginal hysterectomy (TVH). Hysterectomy procedures are viable options for women who have severe menstrual problems that do not respond to any other treatments and for those with suspected or confirmed malignancy of the uterus or cervix. Once a woman has a hysterectomy, she can no longer have children, so for those who wish to become pregnant, hysterectomy is not a good choice.

Identification

• During a total vaginal hysterectomy, the surgeon removes the entire uterus through the vaginal opening. The surgeon cuts the ligaments holding the uterus in place and then removes it. Once the uterus is out, the doctor uses stitches to close the resulting wounds.

Effects

• The removal of the uterus through the vaginal opening results in complete cessation of menses. Sterility occurs once the doctor removes the uterus. Any uterine disease is gone with a hysterectomy. TVH requires only a single night in the hospital in many cases, and a few weeks off work. Compared to the traditional abdominal hysterectomy, the recovery for TVH is much faster. Internal stitching means there are no outside scars from the procedure.

Misconceptions

• Many people wrongly believe that a hysterectomy involves removing the cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries. However, those are completely different procedures. While a surgeon can combine a hysterectomy with removal of the cervix, fallopian tubes or ovaries, it does not always occur. A hysterectomy is by definition the removal of the uterus only. Bladder or colon repair can also occur at the same time as a hysterectomy.

Warning

• A vaginal hysterectomy is a surgical procedure, and therefore carries the risks associated with surgeries. These risks are mainly associated with adverse reactions to anesthesia, such as heart problems or allergic reactions to the drugs. However, other complications from a vaginal hysterectomy include sexual dysfunction, small cuts to other internal organs and complications from surgery cuts. Infection of incision sites is also a possibility post-surgery.

Considerations

• There are some cases when vaginal hysterectomy is not an option. Women who have an extremely enlarged uterus are not candidates for vaginal hysterectomies. Sometimes doctors may plan on a vaginal hysterectomy but end up having to cut the abdomen to get the uterus out. If uterine cancer is a possibility, vaginal hysterectomy may not be an option in order to prevent malignancy from spreading inside the abdomen.