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Jun 12, 2006
Pregnancy after hysterectomy
by SirGan
 A hysterectomy is an operation to remove a woman's uterus. There are several variations of the operation and sometimes the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and cervix are removed at the same time the uterus is removed. These organs are located in a woman's lower abdomen. What exactly is a cervix? The cervix is the lower end of the uterus and ovaries are organs that produce eggs and hormones. The fallopian tubes are nothing more then specific “pipes” that carry eggs from the ovaries to the uterus. Hysterectomy ranks as one of the most common surgical procedures among women. Most women are concerned because they don’t know if the pregnancy is possible after hysterectomy! Incidence of the procedureAlthough most people don’t know about this -hysterectomy is the second most common major surgery among women in the United States. Each year, more than 600,000 hysterectomies are done. About one third of women in the United States have had a hysterectomy by age 60.
Types of hysterectomy operationBefore the operation, in making a decision, patient should also consider that a hysterectomy is not reversible. After a hysterectomy, patient will no longer be able to bear children and she will no longer menstruate. During the operation a surgeon detaches your uterus from the blood vessels and connective tissue that support it, as well as from the vagina.
Types of hysterectomy surgery include:
Removes the uterus but leaves the cervix in place. By keeping the cervix, your risk of cervical cancer remains, so you'll still need regular Pap tests for screening.
During this operation, a surgeon removes the uterus, including the cervix.
During this type of hysterectomy, surgeon removes the uterus, cervix, fallopian tubes and ovaries. If you haven't already experienced menopause, removing your ovaries initiates it.
Extends farther, removing the upper portion of the vagina and some surrounding tissue and lymph nodes. Doctor removes not only uterus, but also the cervix, the upper part of the vagina, and supporting tissues. This is done in some cases of cancer. A hysterectomy typically is performed under general anesthesia, and the procedure itself lasts about one to two hours.
Incisions in the operation can be different and done in different places:
Indications for the operationThere are several indications for this kind of operation! Some of the most commons are:
If a patient has some kind of gynecologic cancer, such as cancer of the uterus or cervix, a hysterectomy could be the best treatment option. Depending on the specific cancer patient has other options might include radiation or chemotherapy.
What exactly are fibroids! These are benign uterine tumors that cause persistent bleeding, anemia, pelvic pain or bladder pressure. Hysterectomy is the only certain, permanent solution for fibroids. Of course, there are some non-surgical treatments but most of them offer minimal relieving of symptoms.
Endometriosis is one specific pathological process in which the tissue lining the inside of your uterus called endometrium grows outside the uterus on ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other pelvic or abdominal organs. Although there are some non-invasive methods and medications available- hysterectomy could be the most effective method!
This is one specific condition characterized by descent of the uterus into your vagina can happen when the supporting ligaments and tissues weaken. Uterine prolapse can lead to urinary incontinence, pelvic pressure or difficulty with bowel movements.
If patients have complaints on periods which are heavy and irregular or last many days each cycle, a hysterectomy may bring relief when the bleeding can't be controlled by non-surgical methods.
Occasionally, surgery is a necessary last resort for women who experience chronic pelvic pain that clearly arises in the uterus.
Hysterectomy side effectsIt is not a secret that most experts estimate that 25 to 50 percent of hysterectomy patients will have one or more complications although they consider most to be minor or reversible.
First, a hysterectomy ends a woman's ability to become pregnant.
Studies also indicate that women who have had hysterectomy have a 60 percent greater risk of being incontinent by 60 years of age.
Additionally, since the uterus produces prostacyclin, a hormone that inhibits blood clots, removal of the organ may make blood more likely to clot and could be a factor in the increased risk of heart attack among women who have had a hysterectomy.
Another very important thing that should be understood is that, if the ovaries are taken out along with the uterus, a woman will definitely loose most of her supply of the female sex hormone, estrogen.
Other postoperative complications may include severe vaginal bleeding, injury to the bowel or bladder, infection, persistent pain and diminished sexual response. Many women also report fatigue, weight gain, aching joints, urinary tract disorders and depression after having a hysterectomy.
Hysterectomy and pregnancy!Patients, especially younger women should know that hysterectomy will definitely end their ability to become pregnant. If they think they might want to become pregnant, they should ask their doctor about alternatives to this surgery. In the case of cancer, hysterectomy might be the only option. So, the most important thing to know is that, once a hysterectomy of any kind is performed, pregnancy is no longer possible. If the ovaries of a premenopause woman are removed, then ovulation will also stop. This means there will be a drop in production of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, which can cause vaginal dryness, hot flushes, sweating and other associated symptoms of natural menopause.
Hysterectomy alternativesDoctors often recommend hysterectomy to relieve conditions like chronic pain or heavy bleeding even though there are a variety of other therapies that can be tried. All these methods are intended to leave woman fertile and able to get pregnant!
Some of the most common alternatives are:
Several different medications may be given to reduce or stop heavy bleeding and this is generally used in the short term to provide symptom relief.
This is one procedure that involves the removal or stripping of the lining of the uterus, which is shed each month as a period. It is proven that endometrial ablation can successfully reduce or stop heavy bleeding in 85 per cent of cases.
The fact is that the size, number and position of the fibroids will determine the treatment options offered but they can be treated using medication. They can also be starved of a blood supply required for growth.
This procedure involves cutting or burning out tissue deposits and adhesions from such areas as the ovaries, bladder, bowel, uterus, pelvic walls and ligaments which support the uterus.
This adenomyosis disease can be literally cut out leaving the uterus intact. This procedure is recommended for those women who wish to become pregnant.
If a patient has fibroid tumors, a myomectomy can surgically remove the tumors while leaving her uterus intact. Although there's a risk that the tumors could come back, this may be the best option if you want to have children.
Hysterectomy and ectopic pregnancyMany women that had their uterus removed but still has her ovaries and tubes are worried could they develop an ectopic pregnancy! This is very interesting issue because it is possible!
Pregnancy following hysterectomy has been described: the pregnancy can be in the fallopian tube (ectopic pregnancy) or in the abdominal cavity. In both circumstances, this is not a pregnancy that has a good future. So, an ectopic pregnancy may occur after hysterectomy, but it is incredibly uncommon and what so ever- there are only 36 reports in the world's literature. Most of the reported cases happened immediately after the hysterectomy, apparently because an already fertilized egg was in transit down the fallopian tubes at the time of the surgery. Because the chance of an ectopic pregnancy occurring after a hysterectomy is so uncommon, there is no need to use any form of contraception afterwards.
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