Compassionate Hysterectomy at Dignity Health

A hysterectomy is surgery to remove the uterus. A woman who has had a hysterectomy will no longer have menstrual periods and cannot get pregnant. Gynecologic surgeons perform hysterectomy to treat a wide variety of gynecologic problems.

Dignity Health doctors provide personalized care for hysterectomy in Arizona. We have three first-class facilities fully dedicated to women’s health services:

It's our people who heal, from the most renowned physicians to dedicated nurses and support staff.

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Why Doctors Perform Hysterectomy

Common reasons for hysterectomy are: 

  • Uterine prolapse
  • Cancer of the uterus, cervix, or ovaries
  • Endometriosis
  • Chronic pelvic pain
  • Persistent and abnormally heavy periods
  • Uterine fibroids

What to Expect with Hysterectomy at Dignity Health

Your experience will depend upon what organs are removed during your hysterectomy and how your hysterectomy is performed. During a partial hysterectomy (a)lso called subtotal hysterectomy, the uterus is removed, but the cervix remains. During a total hysterectomy, the uterus and cervix are both removed. Ovaries may also be removed in through a procedure called oophorectomy.

Gynecologic surgeons perform hysterectomy in a hospital operating room using general anesthesia (medication that puts you into a deep sleep). Your surgeon can perform a hysterectomy through the abdomen or the vagina. 

Talk with your doctor to see if you are eligible for a robotic hysterectomy. Surgeons at Dignity Health use da Vinci® Surgical Systems to perform this procedure, often resulting in less pain, less scarring, and a faster recovery time.

During an abdominal hysterectomy, an incision is made in the lower abdomen. A few tiny incisions are made in the abdomen if the surgery is a laparoscopic hysterectomy. Laparoscopic is a minimally invasive type of hysterectomy that involves a special camera and surgical instruments.

During a vaginal hysterectomy, the uterus is removed through the vagina. Vaginal hysterectomies have much smaller incisions, shorter hospital stays, and shorter recovery periods than traditional abdominal hysterectomies that are not laparoscopic.

The risk of complications is higher for a traditional abdominal hysterectomy than for a laparoscopic or vaginal hysterectomy. Talk with your doctor about plans to minimize your risks.

Recovery After Hysterectomy

After your surgery, you will still have a tube in your bladder to drain urine. This tube will be removed as soon as possible. Your doctor will prescribe pain medication as needed and encourage you to walk often. Walking after surgery helps decrease the risk of blood clots. You may go home the day after surgery or stay in the hospital a few days.

Your total recovery time will depend upon the type of hysterectomy. Recovery from laparoscopic or vaginal hysterectomy is typically faster than recovery from a traditional abdominal hysterectomy.

If your ovaries are removed during surgery, you will be in menopause. Talk with your doctor about whether replacement hormones are a good choice for you.

Full recovery after hysterectomy can take from three to six weeks. Your doctor will monitor your healing and discuss any further recommended treatment with you.

Dignity Health provides comprehensive women’s health services, including hysterectomy, in Arizona.