Vaginal Vs. Laparoscopic Hysterectomy

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that over 3 million women experienced a hysterectomy between 2000 and 2004. Vaginal hysterectomy and laparoscopic hysterectomy are two of the methods doctors use to perform this common reproductive surgery.

The Facts

Vaginal hysterectomy is the removal of your uterus through the vagina. Laparoscopic hysterectomy occurs when your doctor makes small incisions in your abdomen and removes your uterus in little pieces through those incisions.

Time Frame

According to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), recovery time for a laparoscopic surgery is typically shorter than the time it takes for you to recover from the vaginal surgery.

Identification

Since it uses a laparoscope, a small camera on the end of a tube, laparoscopic hysterectomy allows your doctor to view your uterus and other abdominal organs; vaginal hysterectomies do not.

Effects

Since it is performed through your vagina, a vaginal hysterectomy does not produce any visible scars. A laparoscopic hysterectomy, on the other hand, results in small scars on your abdomen.

Considerations

According to ACOG, your doctor will use the results of a pelvic exam and consider the reason for your surgery before recommending a specific type of hysterectomy surgery.

References

• CDC: Women's Reproductive Health: Hysterectomy Fact Sheet
• ACOG: Hysterectomy Educational Pamphlet