Chicago, IL area doctors offer hysterectomy via advanced GYN surgery
At Northwestern Women’s Health Associates S.C. in Chicago, women can feel at ease talking to professionals who care about their patients’ concerns. When women are considering advanced GYN surgery options like a hysterectomy, they may feel uneasy about choosing a treatment option. The doctors at Northwestern Women’s Health Associates offer guidance to women to help them choose the right treatment for their individual needs. Our team uses advanced technologies to provide precision while being as minimally invasive as possible. Women who are considering hysterectomies for personal or medical purposes are welcome to ask about the benefits of these minimally invasive procedures.
What is a hysterectomy?
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that is typically performed to remove a woman’s uterus. In some cases, other parts of the female anatomy may be removed, such as the cervix and the ovaries. If a patient chooses to remove their ovaries, they are educated on what to expect in terms of menopause symptoms, as this can trigger the start of this change of life. Speaking with a medical professional about how the body will change following a hysterectomy is incredibly important so patients fully understand the treatment that they are having performed and what to expect afterwards.
What are the benefits of having a hysterectomy?
In most cases, the primary benefit of having this procedure performed is an end or reduction in the problems that have persisted and made the patient consider the procedure in the first place. If a patient is dealing with heavy periods or pain from fibroids, removal of the uterus can result in drastic improvement in one’s quality of life. A hysterectomy may also be needed to treat cancers of the cervix, ovaries, or uterus.
Who is a candidate for a hysterectomy?
There are many reasons why a woman may choose to have a hysterectomy. The best candidates are patients who are having issues such as:
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Abnormal vaginal bleeding
- Adenomyosis
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids causing chronic bleeding or pain
- Cancer of the ovaries, cervix, or uterus
- Uterine prolapse
In many of these cases, other treatments may have already been tried without improvement of symptoms. It is at this point that our doctors may recommend having a hysterectomy to improve quality of life or overall health and wellness.
What can a patient expect after their hysterectomy?
Women who have had a hysterectomy that has involved the removal of their ovaries will begin to enter menopause, and the removal of the uterus or cervix while keeping the ovaries intact will sometimes cause women to experience menopause earlier than if the treatment had not been performed. Most of the time, women will keep their ovarian function until menopause.
After the procedure, women experience improvement or elimination of the problems they were experiencing that led to the hysterectomy, such as a reduction in bleeding, pain, or heavy periods. Patients who have a hysterectomy should strictly follow their doctor’s orders for post-operative care, which may include abstaining from sex and avoiding lifting heavy objects for approximately six weeks after the procedure.
What is a minimally invasive hysterectomy?
With advances in today’s technology and the tools used in gynecology, doctors are able to offer a variety of treatments in a less invasive way than before. Traditional hysterectomies were often invasive and required extensive downtime and recovery for the patient. However, with advanced technology available at Northwestern Women’s Health Associates S.C., patients can often achieve the same results in a more conservative manner, speeding the process of healing and reducing the time patients need to take time off work and their normal everyday activities. We encourage patients to ask about the minimally invasive GYN surgeries available at our clinic.
Discuss your options for a hysterectomy with our team
At Northwestern Women’s Health Associates S.C., we understand that choosing to have a hysterectomy done is a personal and complicated decision for a woman to make. We know that it can be overwhelming to choose a healthcare professional to complete this procedure, and we believe that using the most advanced techniques to perform GYN surgery is important to women in and around the area of Chicago, IL.
If you are considering the benefits of minimally invasive hysterectomies with our team, we welcome you to book a consultation appointment with one of our doctors. Laparoscopic hysterectomy at Northwestern Women’s Health Associates S.C. is performed by Dr. Stanley Friedell while Dr. Friedell also performs robotic-assisted laparoscopic hysterectomy.