Hysterectomy is a major operation to remove the uterus that is not usually used for sterilization but is done for women to correct a number of serious health conditions when all other options fail. It is also important to note that hysterectomy will not help prevent or protect one from STIs. Recovery time varies on the type of procedure and individual 's overall health. The female internal reproductive organs is made up of the vagina (a canal that joins the cervix to the outside of the body which is known as the birth canal), cervix (a cylinder-shaped organ which forms the neck of the uterus and opens into the vagina), uterus (a hollow, pear-shaped organ that is known as the womb/home to a developing fetus), fallopian tubes (narrow tubes that …show more content…
There are four different types of hysterectomy: total hysterectomy (the removal of both the uterus and the cervix), partial or supracervical hysterectomy (the removal of the upper portion of the uterus), total hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (the removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, and ovaries), and radical hysterectomy (the removal of the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes, ovaries, upper vagina, some surrounding tissue, and lymph nodes). These procedures can be performed abdominally (the uterus is removed through an incision in the lower abdomen), vaginally (the uterus is removed through an incision in the top of the vagina), or laparoscopically (the uterus is removed through several small incisions in the …show more content…
The four main ways to perform a hysterectomy are known as total abdominal hysterectomy (TAH), vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopic assisted vaginal hysterectomy (LAVH), and laparoscopic supracervical hysterectomy (LSH). In TAH, the surgeon makes an approximate 5 inch incision through the lower abdomen from the belly button to the pubis or along the bikini line to remove the entire uterus and cervix. This will cause more pain and a longer recovery with a larger scar compared to other procedures. In vaginal hysterectomy, the surgeon makes a small incision above the vagina to remove the uterus and/or cervix, if needed, resulting in a faster healing time. LAVH is similar to the vaginal hysterectomy with the removal of the uterus and cervix except it adds the use of a laparoscope. A laparoscope is a thin, lighted tube used to view the structures of the abdomen and pelvis. There will be several small incisions at about half an inch each through the lower abdomen and below the belly button. Whereas, the LSH is done entirely through small abdominal incisions with the use of laproscopic tools to remove only the uterus. Both LAVH and LSH will have a much quicker recovery time as compared to previous mentioned