Hysterectomy

Understanding Why Dr. J. Kyle Mathews Will Recommend Hysterectomy

Surgically removing your uterus may become necessary when you experience troubling symptoms and certain gynecological conditions, or after a cancer diagnosis. Dr. J. Kyle Mathews is conservative in his approach to hysterectomy, and will first provide effective alternatives to this gynecological surgery.

Second only to cesarean section as the leading type of women’s surgery, hysterectomy can be an effective treatment for these syndromes:

• Abnormal or excessive bleeding
• Adenomyosis
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Endometriosis
• Fibroid tumors
• Uterine prolapse

If you have uterine cancer, endometrial cancer or certain types of breast cancer, hysterectomy is warranted. In most other cases, however, hysterectomy is not a first-line treatment.

Total hysterectomy versus partial hysterectomy

Sometimes Dr. Mathews needs to remove the ovaries and fallopian tubes as well as the uterus. He will discuss with you expectations for the surgery, and the associated risks. For example: Menopause begins when a woman no longer has her ovaries, the organ that produces and releases eggs every month during a menstrual cycle. Even with the ovaries still in place, some women experience premature menopause after hysterectomy.

Your hysterectomy will fall into one of four categories:

1. A total hysterectomy will remove the entire uterus and the cervix.

2. A partial or subtotal hysterectomy removes the upper part of the uterus, but leaves the cervix intact.

3. A radical hysterectomy after a cancer diagnosis also removes surrounding tissues and the upper area of the vagina to help prevent reoccurrence.

4. Oopherectomy removes the ovaries during hysterectomy.

Choosing Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery

Dr. Mathews is a board certified urogynecological surgeon, with specialized skills in robotic and minimally invasive techniques. Diagnostic factors such as a woman’s anatomy and health condition come into play when deciding the approach for hysterectomy.

In Dr. Mathews’ experience, most women are good candidates for minimally invasive surgery, or no-incision procedures, as an alternative to abdominal (open) hysterectomy.

Laparoscopic hysterectomy
A lighted surgical tool, inserted through a keyhole incision, helps Dr. Mathews visualize the surgical field; he manipulates additional instruments through 1-2 other small incisions. With this minimally invasive approach, we can remove the uterus without making a large incision that requires an extended hospital stay and recovery time.

Robotic hysterectomy
Similar to laparoscopic hysterectomy, robotic surgery places the surgeon at the helm of precision surgical tools without putting his or her hands inside of the body. Dr. Mathews is certified in the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, which enhances control, visualization and dexterity during hysterectomy.

Vaginal hysterectomy
The same laparoscope is used in this type of hysterectomy surgery, but the incision is made in the vagina, rather than the abdomen.

While nearly 80 percent of hysterectomies are performed with an open technique, Dr. Mathews chose his subspecialty as a urogyn so that he can offer newer, more progressive treatment options to his patients.

Read more about minimally invasive gynecological surgery on our website, or contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. J. Kyle Mathews, a skilled and compassionate surgeon.