Our San Antonio Obgyns May Suggest a Hysterectomy to Improve Patient Health
At Live Oak Women’s Health, we provide advanced medical care for our patients through all stages of their lives. Our San Antonio obgyns want to provide one-stop healthcare for all your medical needs, including minimally invasive surgery such as hysterectomy. When you visit our clinic, your physician will gather a full medical history, discuss your specific situation, and collaborate on the best treatment option.
Reasons to consider a hysterectomy
By definition, a hysterectomy is the surgical removal of the uterus. Having this surgery stops menstrual cycles and eliminates the ability to conceive. Because of the hormonal, psychological and physical implications of this surgery, your doctor will usually exhaust all other treatment options before moving to removal of the uterus.
Generally, our San Antonio obgyns recommend this surgery in the following cases:
- Excessive bleeding not controlled in any other way
- Uterine fibroids that increase in size, cause bleeding and/or result in unmanageable pain
- Uterine, cervical, or ovarian abnormalities that may lead to cancer or have been identified as cancerous
- Prolapse of the uterus where it slips down into or protrudes out of the vagina
- Endometriosis that creates severe discomfort or other health issues
- Gender affirmation surgery
The benefits of minimally invasive surgery
When planning this surgery, your doctor will choose the best option for your overall situation. Depending on your specific circumstances, your physician may perform a partial hysterectomy, which involves taking the uterus but leaving the ovaries, or a complete hysterectomy, removing the full uterus, cervix and ovaries. If the need for the surgery is related to a cancer diagnosis, the surgeon will plan a radical hysterectomy to remove the whole uterus, tissue on the sides of the uterus, the cervix, and the top part of the vagina.
Whenever possible, our physicians opt for minimally invasive surgery because of the benefits to our patients. With minimally invasive surgery, patients experience fewer complications, less pain and shorter recovery times. For this procedure, several surgical methods exist.
- A traditional abdominal hysterectomy, with an incision across the abdomen to remove the uterus
- A vaginal hysterectomy that involves extracting the uterus via an incision in the vagina
- A laparoscopic hysterectomy, in which the surgeon makes small incisions and inserts tools through those cuts to remove the uterus
Recovery from this surgery takes four to six weeks for total healing.
We consider it a privilege to be selected as your trusted healthcare partner. The entire team at our San Antonio obgyns practice is committed to delivering top-notch medical treatment in a warm, compassionate environment. Contact our office for more information or to schedule an appointment.
