TYPES OF HYSTERECTOMY – PART 2
With a total hysterectomy, your uterus and cervix are both removed, and your ovaries left intact. With a total hysterectomy with bilateral salp-ingo-oophorectomy, your uterus and cervix will be removed along with your fallopian tubes and ovaries. With a radical hysterectomy, all of the above will be removed along with the upper third of the vagina, the ligaments that hold the uterus in place, and nearby lymph nodes.
The reason it's so important for you to discuss the extent of your surgery is twofold. First, the more you know before your surgery, studies show, the greater your satisfaction will be afterward. Second, having your ovaries removed means going into artificial menopause—that is, you will no longer have high levels of estrogen in your body. The result: all of the changes of menopause, from hot flashes to bone loss to increased risk of heart disease and sometimes serious mood changes. If you don't have to have your ovaries removed for any medical reason, make sure your doctor isn't one to remove them "just because he's already in there." If you need to have your ovaries removed in addition to your uterus, then you should discuss the option of HRT (hormone replacement therapy) with your doctor beforehand, and have a plan of action.
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General health
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