For those who suffer from uterine or ovarian cancer, a hysterectomy may be unavoidable. According to Dr. Michael Toaff, those patients only account for 10 percent of hysterectomies performed. In the past, female gynecological conditions like uterine fibroids, endometriosis and uterine prolapse could only be treated with hysterectomy. Advancing science has brought many alternatives to hysterectomy.
Oral Contraceptives
After childbirth, some women elect to have a hysterectomy as an effective means of sterilization. Oral contraceptives, although not 100 percent effective, are an alternative way to prevent unwanted pregnancies. Endometriosis, a painful uterine condition marked by the migration of uterine cells outside of the uterus, can cause excessive menstrual bleeding and clotting. ClevelandClinic.com recognizes the safe and effective use of oral contraceptives in stopping the spread of these cells and regulating menses.
Laser Surgery
Another alternative to hysterectomy for endometriosis is laser surgery. The uterine cells that migrate out of the uterus can cause painful strictures, or binding, of the female reproductive organs. These strictures are sometimes targeted with a laser and destroyed, allowing the tissues to return to their normal position within the female anatomy, reducing pain.
Myomectomy
Myomectomy is a laparoscopic, or by small incision and scope, surgery used to remove uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids, composed of muscle cell tissue, are non-cancerous tumors that can fill the uterus, causing pain and heavy menses. Myomectomy can also use a vaginal approach; with the vaginal approach, no incisions are necessary and healing time is reduced.
Pessary
A pessary is a medical device sometimes used for uterine prolapse. Uterine prolapse is a common condition, especially after childbirth, that causes the uterus to drop or fold on itself and sometimes protrude into the cervical canal. ClevelandClinic.com advocates for the use of a pessary to hold the uterus in place, as opposed to hysterectomy.
