Total Abdominal Hysterectomy

Women don’t like to think about having a hysterectomy. It is one of those things which goes right along with child birth and it isn’t something to be looked forward to with excitement. However, total abdominal hysterectomies don’t have to be a problem and they can be a solution to many different things which cause problems for women each and every month.

A total abdominal hysterectomy is a hysterectomy where the doctor will remove the uterus and the cervix. When women face a total abdominal hysterectomy it is usually because the doctor finds it necessary and unavoidable. Often, a partial hysterectomy is the choice by many doctors who are trying to solve a health problem outside of cancer.

An abdominal hysterectomy is usually performed to treat one of the following:

• Cancer of the uterus
• Cancer of the ovaries
• Endometriosis
• Large uterine fibroids

There are other reasons which doctors will consider total abdominal hysterectomies too. However, the four reasons mentioned above are likely to be the main reasons for the consideration. Heavy bleeding can also encourage the total hysterectomy. Abdominal pain and cramping accommodating the bleeding will likely encourage further testing and consideration of the total abdominal hysterectomy.

If women are of child-bearing age, a total hysterectomy is not something doctors will encourage unless it is necessary to protect the health of the patient. Women will not be able to have children after a hysterectomy which is why women with endometriosis clearly need to try to handle their endometriosis without a hysterectomy first before they become too keen on the idea of the hysterectomy.

Insurance companies have deemed the total abdominal hysterectomy unnecessary in many cases. This is one of the reasons health care insurance is under such scrutiny at times because of foolish decisions. Still, there are some considerations for other treatments when insurance denies coverage for the total hysterectomy.

If a total abdominal hysterectomy is not taken into consideration then the following alternatives will likely patch the problem and make the insurance companies happy:

1. Vaginal Hysterectomy
2. Laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy
3. Endometrial Ablation

The endometrial ablation is something that can be used to stop heavy bleeding or at least slow down the heavier bleeding. However, many patients will still end up needing the hysterectomy at a later date. In which case, insurance companies will pay more for the surgeries.

In some cases, patients prefer one of the three choices listed above because the side effects are less likely to be life-threatening and the recovery time is minimal.

A total abdominal hysterectomy is one which can be painful to overcome depending on the incision and other factors. The incision is typically five inches wide and can be done within a hospital with an overnight stay required. Some patients have left the hospital within 12 hours after this major surgery and this is thanks to their insurance coverage and not necessarily recommended by the attending physician of the patient.

Uterine fibroids are often not taken as seriously as they should be but these fibroids have the potential to turn into cancer. If you doctor recommends a hysterectomy for these then you should take her advice and have them removed.

Obviously, patients with ovarian cancer or cancer of the uterus are left with little choices in alternatives than to have the total abdominal hysterectomy but check with your doctor for other treatment options if you are unsure. While this is the most effective way to handle these two cancers, in the medical world, everything changes and nothing stays the same, as the old adage states.

Occasionally, a patient will luck up and be able to have the vaginal hysterectomy rather than the abdominal hysterectomy. Total recovery from the vaginal hysterectomy is quicker than the abdominal hysterectomy.

Total abdominal hysterectomies are the best way to ensure cancer, endometriosis and other life-threatening or health-hindering diseases are maintained, if not cured. However, if your doctor feels you can get by with one of the other measures for treatment, then you will be better off when it comes to recovery.