Hysterectomy

Each year, approximately 600,000 women in the United States undergo a full or partial hysterectomy. Dr. David W. Foulk, the founder of Marion OB/GYN Inc. in Marion, Ohio, was the first area physician to perform hysterectomies using less-invasive laparoscopic-assisted surgery. If you live in Marion or surrounding neighborhoods and are looking for a skilled surgeon who can perform a hysterectomy with minimal downtime and a shorter hospital stay, contact Dr. Foulk and his caring staff by phone to make an appointment.

What are hysterectomies?

A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes all or part of your reproductive organs. You may need a hysterectomy if you have a gynecological condition that can’t be resolved in another manner.

Dr. Foulk may recommend a full or partial hysterectomy to treat:

• Chronic pelvic pain
• Abnormal vaginal bleeding
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Uterine prolapse
• Thickened uterus
• Uterine cancer

Dr. Foulk only removes your reproductive organs when doing so is essential for your health and well-being. 

The different types of hysterectomy are:

• Total: the entire uterus is removed  
• Partial: upper uterus removed and cervix is preserved
• Radical: entire uterus, cervix, top of the vagina, ovaries, and fallopian tubes are removed

What are laparoscopy-assisted hysterectomies?

Traditional hysterectomies are performed through a large incision in the lower abdomen. Dr. Foulk favors camera-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomies, which are performed through a small incision in the vagina using thinner surgical instruments.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends vaginal hysterectomy or laparoscopic-assisted vaginal hysterectomy over any other method whenever possible.

Advantages include:

• No abdominal incision
• Only a small incision in the vagina
• Less traumatic
• More cost-effective
• Takes less time
• Quicker recovery
• Smaller scar

The ACOG also recommends vaginal laparoscopic surgery over the popular robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery in benign conditions, when feasible. Robot-assisted laparoscopy may be appropriate in some cases of uterine cancer but increase cost and time on the length of the surgery.

What can I expect after my hysterectomy?

Recovery time for hysterectomies varies based on the type of hysterectomy and the invasiveness of the surgery. In general, after your hysterectomy, you may feel relieved that you are finally symptom-free.

If your hysterectomy was performed to remove cancerous tissue, you may still fear that the cancer will return. Dr. Foulk and his team schedule regular follow-up screenings and recommend an oncologist for further treatments, if necessary.

If you go into sudden menopause after your hysterectomy, you may need some time to adjust to your loss of fertility. Dr. Foulk also may recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to alleviate your symptoms.

Dr. Foulk and his caring team at Marion OB/GYN Inc. help you adjust to your hysterectomy with support and counseling.