TYPES OF SURGERIES
Surgical options for hysterec-
tomy include:
●
Abdominal hysterectomy. The uterus is removed
through a horizontal or vertical cut in the lower belly.
●
Vaginal hysterectomy. The uterus is removed through
an incision in the vagina.
●
Laparoscopic hysterectomy. The uterus is removed
through one or more tiny incisions in the belly.
For some women, such as those who suffer from
heavy bleeding during menstruation, hysterectomy
may be too drastic of an option. For these women, an
intermediate type of surgery called endometrial abla-
tion was developed.
“Endometrial ablation destroys the endometrial lin-
ing of the uterus, reducing the amount of cells that are
sloughed off during menstruation,” explains Dr. Korostoff.
“Eighty to ninety percent of women who undergo the
procedure see improvement in their menstrual flow. For
some women, it stops completely.”
Endometrial ablation can be performed in the doc-
tor’s office or as an outpatient surgery. Because it is not
a hysterectomy, there is still a chance you could get
pregnant after the procedure, so contraceptive use is
recommended.
Heart & Vascular Institute
Glendale Adventist Medical Center
Phone: (818) 863-4099 or (844) 21-HEART
AdventistHealth.org/Glendale
The Heart & Vascular Institute offers:
• Treatment of arrhythmias, heart failure,
valve disorders and coronary artery disease
• Chronic care management (cholesterol
and hypertension management)
• Cardiac and vascular primary screenings
• Population health screenings
• Nuclear camera, treadmill and echo room
Our Address
Lee Hughes Medical Building
1500 E. Chevy Chase Dr., Suite 201, Glendale, CA 91206
Call (818) 863-4099 for an appointment!
Healthcare
at a Higher Level
HYSTERECTOMY
WHAT ARE
THE OPTIONS?
WOMEN HAVE HAD HYSTERECTOMIES
since at least
the second century A.D. Back then, there weren’t a lot of
choices about how it was done.
But 1,00 years of medicine has changed that.
Today, there are a variety of ways to perform a hyster-
ectomy—removal of the uterus—depending on a woman’s
health and the reasons for her surgery.
Here’s a quick guide to some important things to know
if you’re considering a hysterectomy or if your doctor has
recommended one. Working together with your doctor,
you can choose the procedure that’s best for you.
THE BASICS
“Hysterectomy is the second most common
surgery for American women, after caesarean section,”
says Leslie Korostoff, MD, OB-GYN at Glendale Adventist
Medical Center (GAMC). “Often, it’s the best course of
treatment for women suffering from specific gynecologic
problems, such as cancer or endometriosis.”
Depending on the reason for the hysterectomy, all or
part of the uterus may be removed. The cervix, fallopian
tubes, ovaries or upper vagina may be taken out at the
same time.
For some women, a
hysterectomy is the best treatment for
conditions such as broids, endometriosis,
uterine prolapse or cancer.
P O S T - S U R G E R Y
BODY AND MIND
Each woman’s ex-
pe r i ence af te r a
hysterectomy is dif-
ferent, of course. But
here are some of the
changes you may ex-
perience if you have
the surgery:
Physical.
After a
hysterectomy, menstruation stops and you can’t become
pregnant.
If you haven’t yet reached menopause, you may
experience hot flashes and other symptoms of
menopause.
After the surgery, you should continue to have regular
pelvic exams. But if your cervix is removed, you will no
longer need Pap tests.
Emotional.
For some women, a sense of loss or even
depression may set in.
On the other hand, “Many women feel better after
having a hysterectomy because painful symptoms—from
endometriosis, for instance—are gone and they no lon-
ger need to be concerned about getting pregnant,” says
Dr. Korostoff.
For a free referral to a GAMC OB-GYN,
call
(818) 409-8100
. For more information
about Women’s Services at GAMC, visit
GlendaleAdventist.com
.
Wom e n ’ s H e a l t h
Leslie Korostoff, MD, OB-GYN
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