Vaginal Hysterectomy

What you should know

• A vaginal hysterectomy (VH) is surgery to remove your uterus (womb). The uterus is the reproductive organ in a woman's body where a baby grows during pregnancy. Your reproductive organs work together to help you conceive, grow, and give birth to a baby. Your cervix is the narrow part of your uterus that is next to your vagina. In a vaginal hysterectomy, your uterus is removed through your vagina. Your caregiver may remove your entire uterus or leave your cervix. Other organs or tissues may be removed depending on the type of surgery you are having. After a vaginal hysterectomy, you will not be able to have a baby.
  
  
• You may need a vaginal hysterectomy if you have fibroid tumors (growths) in your uterus or other reproductive organs. You may need a VH if you have an infection in your uterus caused by germs called bacteria. A VH may treat severe (very bad) pain, which may be caused by a disease called endometriosis. A vaginal hysterectomy can be used to treat some causes of vaginal bleeding, or to treat uterine cancer. If your uterus has slipped down into your vagina, you may need this surgery. After having a vaginal hysterectomy, your pain and bleeding may decrease.

Care Agreement

You have the right to help plan your care. Learn about your health condition and how it may be treated. Discuss treatment options with your caregivers to decide what care you want to receive. You always have the right to refuse treatment.

Risks

• You may get a fever or an infection. Your vagina may become dry and you may have decreased interest in having sex. You may have incontinence (unable to control when you urinate). You may have pain in your lower abdomen that lasts for months or more. Your other pelvic organs may slip out of place and slide down into the vagina. You may have damage to your blood vessels and your organs, such as your bladder and bowels. You may bleed too much during surgery, and need a blood transfusion. During your surgery, caregivers may need to change from doing a vaginal hysterectomy, to doing an abdominal hysterectomy.
  
  
• You may get a blood clot in your leg or arm. Blood clots need treatment right away because they can stop blood flow in your body. Blood clots cause pain or swelling in your arm or leg. If a clot breaks loose, it can go to your lungs. A blood clot in your lungs causes chest pain and trouble breathing. This problem can be life-threatening.
  
  
• After a vaginal hysterectomy, you will not be able to have a baby. Without a vaginal hysterectomy, you may continue to have very heavy bleeding and severe pain. If you have tumors, they may continue to grow. If your uterus is loose, it may slide down further into your vagina. It may be harder to control your bladder. If you have cancer, it may spread to other parts of your body. If you have an infection, it can become very bad and you can die. Call your caregiver if you have concerns or questions about your surgery, condition, or care.

Getting Ready

Before your surgery:

• Bring your medicine bottles or a list of your medicines when you see your caregiver. Tell your caregiver if you are allergic to any medicine. Tell your caregiver if you use any herbs, food supplements, or over-the-counter medicine.
  
  
• Your caregiver will ask you about your health. Tell him if you have had surgery or other health problems in the past. Tell your caregiver if you think or know that you are pregnant. Your caregiver will do a physical exam. This may include a pelvic exam to check your reproductive organs, including your uterus, ovaries and vagina. During this exam, your caregiver puts fingers into your vagina. At the same time, he presses his other hand on your abdomen (stomach). Your caregiver may use a tool called a speculum to help see your cervix.
  
  
• You may need to take antibiotic medicine before your surgery. This medicine may help prevent you from getting an infection during or after surgery.
  
  
• You may need a blood transfusion if you lose a large amount of blood during surgery. Some people are worried about getting AIDS, hepatitis, or the West Nile virus from a blood transfusion. The risk of this happening is very low. Blood banks test all donated blood for AIDS, hepatitis, and the West Nile virus. You may be able to donate your own blood before surgery. This is called autologous blood donation. This must be done no later than three days before surgery. You may also ask a family member or friend with the same blood type to donate blood for you. This is called directed blood donation.
  
  
• You may need to have blood and imaging tests done. You may have a urine or blood test to see if you are pregnant. A chest x-ray, pelvic ultrasound, or abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan may also be done. Ask your caregiver for more information about tests that you may need. Write down the date, time, and location of each test.

The day of your surgery:

• Write down the correct date, time, and location of your surgery.
  
  
• You or a close family member will be asked to sign a legal document called a consent form. It gives caregivers permission to do the procedure or surgery. It also explains the problems that may happen, and your choices. Make sure all your questions are answered before you sign this form.
  
  
• Caregivers may insert an intravenous tube (IV) into your vein. A vein in the arm is usually chosen. Through the IV tube, you may be given liquids and medicine.
  
  
• Your caregiver may give you antibiotic medicine through your IV before your surgery. Antibiotics may help prevent an infection during or after surgery.
  
  
• An anesthesiologist may talk to you before your surgery. This caregiver may give you medicine to make you sleepy before your procedure or surgery. Tell your caregiver if you or anyone in your family has had a problem using anesthesia in the past.

Treatment

What will happen:

• You will be taken to the room where your surgery will be done. You will be given anesthesia medicine to make you comfortable and pain free during your surgery. Through your vagina, your caregiver will make a cut around your cervix. He will cut and tie the ligaments (strong tissues) that hold your uterus in place. Your caregiver will also tie the blood vessels to your uterus to help prevent bleeding. Your caregiver may give you a shot in your vagina to help decrease bleeding.
  
  
• Your caregiver will remove your uterus through your vagina. Your caregiver may leave your cervix in place or he may remove it. He also may remove tissue surrounding your uterus and part of your vagina. Once your surgery is complete, caregivers may fill your vagina with bandages soaked with medicine. Pieces of tissue or organs removed from your body may be sent to a lab for testing.

After your surgery:

You will be taken to a room where you can rest until you are fully awake. Caregivers will watch you closely for any problems. Do not get out of bed until your caregiver says it is okay. After your caregiver says it is okay, you will be taken back to your hospital room.

Contact a caregiver if

• You have pain that does not go away, even with medicine.
  
  
• You have a fever (high body temperature).
  
  
• You feel pain or fullness in your vagina.
  
  
• You feel like something is sticking out of your vagina.

Seek Care Immediately if

• You have bleeding from your vagina that does not stop.
  
  

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

Learn more about Vaginal Hysterectomy (Precare)