The Incision
There are a number of different ways to perform a hysterectomy, including via cuts in the abdomen (abdominal hysterectomy) and a laparoscopic hysterectomy, which uses a small incision and a tiny tube and camera. A vaginal hysterectomy requires an incision made inside the vagina, through which parts of the reproductive system (including the uterus) can be removed. A vaginal hysterectomy has many benefits according to the Mayo Clinic, including a speedier recovery and shorter hospital stay.
What Happens
Vaginal hysterectomy is performed under general anesthesia, which means you'll be asleep for the procedure. You'll be in an operating room chair with your feet in stirrups, similar to when you go to the doctor for a gynecological exam or pap test. The vagina will be cleaned and sterilized, and you may have a catheter inserted to capture your urine during the surgery, says the Mayo Clinic. Then, your surgeon will be ready to make the incision inside the vagina to begin the removal of reproductive organs.
What's Removed
During the procedure, a surgeon makes cuts to free the uterus from other parts of the reproductive system. These cuts remove the uterus from the ovaries, the fallopian tubes and the rest of the vagina. Once the uterus is separated, it's pulled out through the incision made in the vagina. If only a partial hysterectomy is required, only the top section of the uterus is removed while the rest of it remains intact. A total hysterectomy involves the removal of the whole uterus and the cervix, says the U.S. National Library of Medicine. In a radical hysterectomy, the upper section of the vagina and the lymph nodes in the pelvis may also be removed. Then the incision is closed using stitches.
