Q: What is hysterectomy?
A: Hysterectomy is a surgery to remove the uterus from the body without necessarily removing the ovaries. As a result of this operation, the patient will no longer menstruate and will no longer be able to get pregnant.
Q: Does hysterectomy make you enter your golden years?
A: Hysterectomy does not necessarily have to remove your ovaries every time. If you still have your ovaries, you will have hormones to supply too your body, so you will remain healthy and enter your golden years according to your age, which is at approximately 50 years old and above.
Q: Does hysterectomy cause sexual dysfunction?
A: Hysterectomy can possibly reduce sex drive in some people. However, the reduction is not necessarily as great as worried by many women. In addition, sexual drive is not dependent on hormones alone but also other factors. Most women often think ahead that they will have no sexual feelings or might experience other symptoms that affect their feelings and cause anxiety, suffering and stress. Some people even become depressed. While hysterectomy can create sexual problems due to a shortening of the vagina, the vagina is an elastic organ that can stretch during sexual intercourse, so the impacts on sexual function are not excessively severe.
Q: Can you still have sex after undergoing hysterectomy?
A: Sexual intercourse right after the operation might cause vaginal bleeding from the surgical wound in the upper section of the vagina. However, after receiving your check-up at about 6 weeks after surgery and after your vagina stops secreting blood or other discharges, you will be able to have sexual intercourse.
Q: What are some of the causes for hysterectomy?
A: A major cause is the presence of a tumor inside the uterus, and the tumor is large or growing larger than it should, which can potentially become cancerous. These cases require the removal of the tumor from the uterus or hysterectomy. The aim of hysterectomy is to treat the following symptoms and conditions:
- Abnormal bleeding from the uterus that cannot be managed by other means.
- Presence of tumor inside the uterus.
- The tissues lining the uterus is developing abnormally and producing dangerous symptoms.
- Presence of fibrosis in the uterus.
- Pelvic pain related to the uterus that cannot be managed by other methods.
- Uterine prolapse causing loss of urinary control or causing difficulties during bowel movements.
- Cervical cancer and other types of cancer related to the uterus.
- Complications during childbirth (such as uninterrupted bleeding).
- Presence of large or many tumors in the uterus that cause the uterine muscles to be damaged in a way that cannot be surgically corrected or repaired.
Q: How many types of hysterectomy are there?
A: There are many types, but they are divided into 2 main categories as follows:
- Open abdominal surgery with one single wound about 10 centimeters in size to allow the removal of the uterus.
- Laparoscopic surgery that produces 3 wounds about 0.5 centimeters in size to allow the insertion of a camera and devices to perform the surgery inside the abdomen to remove the uterus or tumor via small incisions.
Q: How is video-assisted laparoscopic surgery performed?
A: Doctors will use a device to make an incision on the abdomen around the side of the umbilical in order to insert a camera to show pictures of the inside of the abdomen. Then doctors will make 2 additional abdominal incisions to insert instruments to cut tissues with the assistance of ultrasound waves. Once tumors are removed, the devices will be used to cut the tumors into small pieces before removing them from the body through the small incisions.
Q: Is video-assisted laparoscopic surgery dangerous?
A: Video-assisted laparoscopic surgery produces small incisions, thus requiring a short recovery time in the hospital of just 1-2 days. With smaller wounds, wound pain also decreases. The complications that can occur from laparoscopic surgery include risk of injury to nearby organs such as the intestines or bladder. However, with the expertise of an experienced medical team, there is greater safety.
Q: How can you protect yourself from tumors in the uterus?
A: Although the cause of tumors in the uterus remains unclear and it cannot be prevented with 100% certainty, attention to health, consumption of clean and organic food without pollution and receiving regular health check-ups, especially gynecological check-ups for women older than 25 years, can help improve your health and reduce risk of developing tumors and cancer.
Q: Is vaginal bleeding after hysterectomy dangerous?
A: After undergoing hysterectomy, a small amount of bleeding is normal, so you do not worry about it. Bleeding can occur for several days for up to several weeks. In the first 2-3 days, the blood is often dark red mixed with bright red in color. However, no bleeding at all is best. Accordingly, the causes vaginal bleeding after undergoing hysterectomy, in addition to the aforementioned case, that may last longer than normal may include the following:
- Protrusion of tissues being created for wound repair between the wounds.
- The ends of the fallopian tubes protruding from the wounds.
- Abnormal development of uterine tissues in the innermost section of the vagina.
If there is abnormal bleeding for an extended period after surgery, you should go see a doctor in order to receive a check-up on your symptoms.
