Vaginal Hysterectomy: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

Vaginal hysterectomy is characterized as the procedure in which the uterus is removed from the vagina. Hysterectomy generally involves the removal of the cervix as well as the uterus. Total hysterectomy along with salpingo-oophorectomy is associated with the removal of one or more fallopian tubes and ovaries during the procedure of vaginal hysterectomy by the surgeon. All these organs are located in the pelvis and are part of the reproductive system.

There are multiple causes which lead you to undergo this surgery. It includes heavy menstrual bleeding, cervical cancer or pregnancy. The majority of women facing heavy periods do not need a vaginal hysterectomy, still there are many women who opt for this surgical methodology which is also a frequent recommendation by specialists as a treatment option. This procedure is characterized by the removal of uterus and as a result the periods stop. While this procedure is quite effective in ending the menstrual bleeding, hysterectomy is a huge surgical procedure that requires hospitalization and several weeks of recuperation. In addition, this process is linked with multiple complications (infection being the most common out of all). In such a case, you must fully consult your health care provider to explain the potential risks and benefits associated to the surgery, along with how the process is carried out.

There are four ways in which vaginal hysterectomy is performed. These methods include hysterectomy vaginally, abdominally, with robotic assistance, or laparoscopically. The route best suited to your condition primarily depends on the physician’s choice. The several factors involved in the consideration of method are the medical requirements of the patient, cost-effectiveness, and safety. A large body mass index (BMI) plays a crucial role in this particular choice. Studies have always supported the view that vaginal hysterectomy, when feasible, is the most cost-effective and safest method of the removal of uterus. Nevertheless, abdominal hysterectomy is the most common method chosen for the removal of the uterus, followed by vaginal hysterectomy. Only 12% of the total patient count chooses laparoscopy hysterectomy and hysterectomy carried out with the assistance of a robot.

During this surgical process, the surgeon separates the uterus from the fallopian tubes, ovaries, and upper vagina, along with the connective tissue and blood vessels that support it. This is when the uterus is finally detached from the vagina. As compared to abdominal hysterectomy, vaginal hysterectomy requires a short stay in the hospital, is safer, recovery is faster and the cost of procedure is low. However, if you have an enlarged uterus then the surgery may not be possible and as a result your doctor may suggest you to go for abdominal hysterectomy.

A woman with a normal sized uterus is eligible for the surgical procedure of vaginal hysterectomy. Also, women who do not want to have children in future are eligible for receiving the treatment.

A woman who has a large sized uterus is not eligible for the surgical procedure of vaginal hysterectomy. Girls under the age of 18 are precluded from receiving the treatment. Women who are planning to have a family in future and bear children are also precluded from receiving the treatment. Patients with an underlying medical condition which is still untreated are not eligible for the treatment.

Some of the side effects associated with the surgical procedure of vaginal hysterectomy include infection, injury to nearby organs, heavy bleeding, pain during intercourse, early menopause (in case the ovaries are removed), blood clot in the lungs or legs, and breathing or heart problems.

Be sure to follow the instructions of your health care provider. Your gynecologist will advise you to take proper rest, but you also need to move here and there as often as you can. Taking short walks and increasing the distance of your walks gradually will prove beneficial after the surgical treatment. Your doctor will ask you to strictly avoid lifting heavy objects until he finally allows you to do so. You must not put anything in your vagina for the first 6 weeks. This includes sexual intercourse, douching, and the usage of tampons. After full recovery, you should regularly visit your gynecologist for general health care tips and routine examinations. Depending on the reason behind the surgical process, there may a need of cervical cancer screening and pelvic exams.

You are likely to be asleep during the whole surgical process of vaginal hysterectomy and will spend the next 48 hours in the hospital. A significant pain will be felt for the first 24 hours followed by a mild pain for the next 10 days. It usually takes 4 weeks for full recovery from this surgery.

The surgical treatment of vaginal hysterectomy ranges between Rs. 1,50,000 to Rs. 1,85,000.

The result for the surgical process will be permanent as there can be no problem arising later if the uterus has been permanently removed through the vagina. Lifestyle measures have to be alterned in order to maintain a healthy life.

There are a number of home remedies and natural treatments available for treating the causes due to which a patient has to undergo vaginal hysterectomy. These include cinnamon (preparation of tea by steeping a cinnamon stick in boiling water and having it each morning), mustard seeds (the intake of mustard powder with milk each morning before or during the menstrual cycle), consumption of food items induced with omega-3 (flaxseed oil and fish), and licorice (consumption of licorice powder with water daily for 4-5 days).