Hysterectomy

Experienced gynecological surgeons at UT Southwestern Medical Center have expertise in minimally invasive and robot-assisted techniques for hysterectomy. Our gynecological program consistently ranks among the best in the country, and we’re committed to providing compassionate care to help our patients enjoy their best health.

With extensive expertise in hysterectomy, we treat any condition that affects women’s reproductive organs, from uterine fibroids and abnormal bleeding to pain to cancer.

Expertise in Minimally Invasive Gynecological Surgery for Hysterectomy

A hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus, which is the muscular organ in a woman’s reproductive tract where a baby develops during pregnancy. After a hysterectomy, a woman can no longer become pregnant.

Since the 1960s, UT Southwestern has been recognized for our excellence in women’s health care. We take a multidisciplinary approach, with teams of board-certified gynecological surgeons, urogynecologists, gynecological oncologists, physical therapists, radiologists, and other providers. Together, we have years of experience and training in both open surgical and minimally invasive techniques for hysterectomy.

Conditions We Treat with Hysterectomy

• Adenomyosis (or endometriosis of the uterus)
• Chronic pelvic pain
• Gynecologic cancer
• Heavy bleeding and painful periods
• Postmenopausal bleeding
• Uterine fibroids

Hysterectomy: Treatment Options

In a hysterectomy, surgeons might remove all or part of the uterus and other reproductive organs, depending on the condition being treated. Hysterectomy procedures include:
At UT Southwestern, our board-certified gynecological surgeons have extensive expertise in all approaches to hysterectomy, which include:

• Total hysterectomy: Removal of the entire uterus and cervix, which is the bottom part of the uterus that opens into the vagina
• Supracervical hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus that leaves the cervix intact, also called subtotal hysterectomy
• Radical hysterectomy: Removal of the uterus, cervix, the upper part of the vagina, and the surrounding tissue, generally performed for cancer
• Vaginal hysterectomy: This minimally invasive approach requires only one incision inside the vagina. The surgeon inserts the surgical instruments through the vagina into the uterus to remove it through the vaginal incision.
• Vaginal natural orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (vNOTES) hysterectomy: Using a specialized transvaginal access device, vNOTES provides better surgical visibility and increased access to remove the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries than traditional vaginal hysterectomy.
• Laparoscopic hysterectomy: Also a minimally invasive procedure, a laparoscopy requires a few small (less than one centimeter) incisions in the lower abdomen. The surgeon inserts a laparoscope (thin tube tipped with a lighted camera) and surgical instruments through the incisions to see all pelvic organs and remove the uterus.
• Robot-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy: The surgeon uses robotic equipment, which can assist with visualization and control, to perform a laparoscopic hysterectomy.
• Abdominal hysterectomy: In this traditional, open procedure, the surgeon makes one long incision in the lower abdomen to perform the surgery.

The benefits of minimally invasive procedures over open surgery include:

• Less pain after the procedure
• Shorter hospital stay, with most patients going home the same day
• Faster recovery
• Lower risk of infection

Patients who have extensive scar tissue in the abdomen or pelvis or who have other medical conditions might not be candidates for a minimally invasive procedure. However, UT Southwestern’s gynecologic surgeons are able to perform the majority of hysterectomies using a minimally invasively approach, even challenging cases involving large uteri and/or multiple prior surgeries.