Endometriosis Hysterectomy

In someone with endometriosis, tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside of the uterus.

It can grow on the ovaries, the bowel, and throughout the pelvis, and this can cause pain. Hormonal changes can inflame this tissue, thickening it and making it more painful.

One treatment for endometriosis is a hysterectomy. This is a surgical procedure to remove the endometrial tissue and the uterus, with or without the ovaries.

The treatment is controversial. A hysterectomy is a major surgery with permanent effects, and it’s not always a cure — the condition and related pain can return.

Types of hysterectomy

A hysterectomy may be done abdominally, laparoscopically, or vaginally.

There are three types:

Partial hysterectomy. In this procedure, also known as a supracervical hysterectomy, the uterus is removed but not the cervix.

Total hysterectomy. The entire uterus, including the cervix, is removed.

Hysterectomy and salpingo-oophorectomy. The uterus and one or both ovaries and fallopian tubes are removed.

Benefits

For some people with endometriosis, having a hysterectomy can have many benefits, including:

the relief of symptoms

no menstrual periods or associated pain

no worries about pregnancy

Why Is Endometriosis Surgery Done?

Endometriosis is a condition in which the type of tissue that lines a woman’s uterus grows outside it. A surgery called laparoscopy is the only way to know for sure whether you have it.

Your doctor might also recommend surgery if you have severe endometriosis pain and medication doesn’t help enough. They can find the endometriosis inside your body and take out all or some of the affected tissue.

There are some things to think about, including whether you want to get pregnant later. You might not be able to have children after certain endometriosis operations. Talk with your doctor about what options are a good fit for you.

When Is It Time for Endometriosis Surgery?

Whether you should have surgery may depend on your age and your overall health. Talk with your doctor if:

You have severe pelvic pain

Medication doesn’t get your symptoms under control

You have trouble getting pregnant

A growth in your pelvic area needs to be removed

Hysterectomy for Endometriosis

Your doctor may need to take out some or all of your reproductive organs if they’re damaged or if they have endometriosis tissue on them. The removal of your uterus is called a hysterectomy. An oophorectomy is when they take out your ovaries. Your doctor will talk with you before the surgery about whether they might need to take this step, and they’ll do it only if you’ve agreed to it.

Doctors may recommend a hysterectomy for women whose symptoms don’t go away despite other treatments and who don’t plan to have children down the road.

Your doctor can usually do a hysterectomy with a laparoscopy, but they can also do it with a laparotomy or by taking out the organs through your vaginal opening.